• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Monday, June 9, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Voreda House – report details what went wrong

by Andrew Keogh
6 September 2024
in News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Voreda House

The need for a business case to be produced prior to the start of a large capital project is the top “lesson learned” takeaway from a probe into what went wrong as spiralling costs landed Westmorland and Furness Council with a final bill of £8.3 million for the upgrade of Voreda House.

Having finally opened to the public in June, Voreda House is the council’s Penrith “hub”, providing a focal point for those requiring services in the Eden area.

But it was the desire of the now defunct Eden District Council to move all its staff under one roof — rather than have them split between the Town Hall and Mansion House — which first set the ball rolling for the single site project in 2011.

In Westmorland and Furness Council’s Voreda House – Lessons Learned report, the authority sets out what has been learned about the development of the building pre-April 2023, following an internal audit review, and outlines steps which will be taken in future for major building projects.

A report considered by members of Eden District Council in February, 2020, failed to inform councillors of key points which should have been important factors in shaping the decision to purchase Voreda House for £900,000.

Voreda House was independently valued and its market value, as a vacant building, was found to be £785,000, but Eden District Council agreed to pay £900,000 for it.

In addition, specialist surveys were not undertaken prior to the property purchase which could have identified any potential additional construction costs.

During the renovation a number of issues emerged, including the presence of asbestos, which added to the cost of its refurbishment.

Going forward, Westmorland and Furness Council has said: “Members should be provided with all relevant information on which to make a decision, particularly important in respect of property purchases where the valuation is below that purchase price or the building survey recommends further specialist surveys.”

Other issues raised include high-risk funding sources being used, steering group meetings not being minuted, lack of documentary evidence to support the assertion of ongoing risk assessment prior to March, 2023, and financial updates being presented verbally to councillors and not documented in written reports.

A budget of £2.3million was approved for single site accommodation in April, 2018, and Voreda House was purchased in summer, 2020, with the intention for it to be occupied by 31st March, 2021.

By March, 2023, Eden District Council’s finance scrutiny committee was told the total cost would be no more than £4.56m. 

Then came the bombshell that Westmorland and Furness Council had identified a cost increase due to construction and wider project inflation and financing of £3.2m for Voreda House — taking the final figure up to £8.3m.

The lessons learned report produced by Westmorland and Furness Council also identifies issues relating to risk assessment in the commissioning and refurbishment of Voreda House.

A Funding Delivery Assurance Group has now been established, to be chaired by the director of resources, to review progress with all externally funded schemes and any high risk internally funded schemes and to approve any required amendments to either the overall business case or spend profiles ahead of reporting the changes to government or to council. This includes monitoring the outputs and impacts of the schemes.

Andrew Jarvis, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for finance, said: “This council rightly recognises that it has a duty to ensure public money is invested wisely and as costs rose on this inherited project we undertook a lessons learnt review to inform future projects. 

“This report has helped us to challenge our current processes and we are confident that they are robust and we will continue to regularly review these as outlined in the management response.

“Voreda House has now been in operation for more than two months and we are beginning to see the planned benefits of bringing Westmorland and Furness Council staff together into one central, modern and flexible building.

“This is a significant milestone in our carbon reduction plan and is evidence of our commitment to investing in our workplace environments across Westmorland and Furness.”

Tags: premium

Related Posts

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?
Expert advice

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever
Latest

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross
News

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep
Farm and Countryside

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex
News

Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

6 June 2025
Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty
Latest

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

5 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

5 June 2025
Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Looking back through the archives

Looking back through the archives

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald