A council's management of a major regeneration project has been so well conducted that the government want to use it as an example of how to run such schemes.
Hyndburn Council's leader Cllr Munsif Dad revealed the good news to its Cabinet on Wednesday as he presented a report on the Levelling Up-funded transformation of Accrington Town Square.
While the document revealed that the completion date for the works to Accrington Market Hall and Burton's Chambers had slipped from March 31 to July 2026, it also showed that the revamp of the area was close to its original budget estimate.
The two projects are part of a major £25million regeneration of Accrington Town Square.
The report to the meeting from transformation and town centres boss Cllr Clare Pritchard revealed that: "The phase two contract cost plus the phase two client fees/costs gives a total phase two cost of £11,080,159.
"This is a budget pressure of £250,000 against the available budget of £10,830,159 and is circa one per cent on a total overall phase one and two project cost of £25,416,516."
The meeting authorised the setting aside of an extra £250,000 to cover that increase and the creation of a £500,000 contingency reserve against further unexpected cost rises.
Presenting the report in Cllr Pritchard's absence from the meeting through illness, Cllr Dad said: "Cabinet is asked to allocate an additional £250,000 of funding to meet the many budget pressures since the bid was submitted back in 2022.
"This represents a marginal one per cent increase in the overall phase one and phase two budget.
"I wish to highlight the recent meeting between senior funding officers from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and council officers to tour the sites and their very positive statement and request for the council to become an example case study showcasing the great progress and lessons learnt from the project."
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Cllr Pritchard said after the meeting: "The timescales for major construction projects were always going to be very challenging, acquisitions have taken longer, additional work has been uncovered as the buildings have been stripped out, which is understandable in dealing with buildings of their age, ensuring the works were tendered in line with the government's new procurement rules and other pressures have all impacted on the programme.
"Let's focus on looking forward to the grand openings next year, the temporary market trader cabinet being removed and many family favourite events returning to the town square."
The council is now in advanced discussions with a preferred operator for the revamped Market Hall.