THE redevelopment of Derby's Cathedral Green will cost up to £950,000 more than originally planned and finish 11 months behind schedule, the Evening Telegraph can reveal.

The £3.8m project, which started in August last year, was to relandscape the area beside the city's Silk Mill and install a swing bridge across the Derwent, linking the open area to Stuart Street.

It was meant to be finished by March – but its completion date has been put back to January.

The project was set back by the discovery of unknown underground cables and several complications with the installation of the bridge.

The delays mean the project is expected to be up to £500,000 over budget.

In addition, the council has had to find around another £450,000 to put towards the project after the Government withdrew part of its funding because the money had not been spent by its March deadline.

Now the scheme has been condemned as a "shambles" by Dave Black, from the Derbyshire branch of the Taxpayers' Alliance.

Lucy Care, Derby City Council's cabinet member for planning and transportation, said the delay meant the cost had risen as contractors Dean and Dyball had been on site longer.

"It was always a challenging project with a very tight time scale," she said.

She said "technical difficulties" had caused the delay, but said it would not be possible yet to say exactly how the extra £500,000 costs had been incurred, because discussions would continue with Dean and Dyball to decide how much of the overspend the contractor would be liable for.

Mrs Care, part of the Lib-Dem group that took over control of the council in May, said the project had already overrun by then.

The extra costs will come out of Derby City Council's Growth Point fund, money which given to the city by Government to help provide services to encourage new developments.

Some of the delays were caused after an electrical junction had to be relocated.

But there have also been difficulties in installing the complex bridge, which can be swung shut during floods.

An initial problem with the crane brought to lift the bridge in place set the project back several days and there have been more difficulties installing the mast and tension rods.

The development is part of Derby Cityscape's strategy to improve public spaces.

John Cadwallader, chief executive of Derby Cityscape, said: "The bridge is hugely complex but it is going to be an major statement in the city.

"I think it is all about the quality of the space and people can really see that coming together now."

The leader of the city's Labour party, Chris Williamson, who was council leader when the project was given the go-ahead, said: "It is an important scheme for the city and the bridge will add a new dimension.

"But that does not excuse the fact that it's over budget and late, that is a matter of some concern. £1m is a lot of money.

"The Lib Dems are trying to score some cheap political points – but this is a strategically important scheme.

"We did not want a second-rate design. We wanted it to be a space that was interesting and iconic."

Mr Black said: "It is a shambles. It is just another example of the hopeless budgeting of the council.

"Schemes like this should be put on the back burner until the economic situation sorts itself out. It is a bridge too far this time."