Cabinet approves additional funding for Moira Furnace repairs

Published: Wed 29 January, 2025

North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) is set to press on with a project to repair Moira Furnace following the allocation of additional funding.

The request for £160,000 of additional funding was approved at a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday 28 January 2025.

In recent years the structure has been affected by multiple rainwater leaks from the roof and exterior walls.

The works have been subject to a competitive tender process which showed that the required repairs will cost £490,000 in capital expenditure.

A budget of £330,000 had been previously allocated to the project – £265,000 from the Capital Programme, and £65,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – however the tendered cost of repair work required an additional £160,000.

This is due to a number of factors, including delays caused by the Covid pandemic, the comprehensive and lengthy scheduled monument consent process with Historic England and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and the impact of inflation within the construction industry nationally.

The allocation of this additional funding by Cabinet means the council can now award a formal written contract to stop water ingress and restore the building’s watertight envelope.

Work is expected to begin on the site as early as mid-February and is expected to last around 22 weeks.

Councillor Tony Gillard, Portfolio Holder for Business and Regeneration, said: "Moira Furnace is a scheduled monument and the council as the freeholder has a legal obligation to protect this important relic of the local iron industry.

“The building dates back to 1806 and is considered one of the best-preserved blast furnaces in the country.

“I’m delighted that we can now begin this much-needed repair work to safeguard the furnace as a historic local landmark and popular tourist attraction for generations to come.”