The year long £4 million New Deal project to refurbish Sorby House, due to start in September 2005 has been delayed until October 2005. Delays are in part due to failed negotiations with Ladbrokes who want to stay in the building and are unwilling to leave during the renovations, which will add costs to the project.
Sorby House is intended to be community and commercial office space and the £3.1 million Vestry Hall project, which is due to start at the end of October 2005, is set to create a learning centre. Neither buildings have completed business plans yet and a member of the Vestry Hall Steering Group expressed concern to the Messenger that they had not met since April 2005 or been able to see the draft business plan.