A REVIEW of council project estimation costs in Christchurch is set to take place next week after several high-profile schemes have seen costs rise above original forecasts.

Members of Christchurch Borough Council's scrutiny committee are due to meet on Tuesday to discuss a report which outlines the current process and details the costs of recent projects.

Over the past a few years six schemes have come in above the predicted cost, while in the last 12 months estimates for two schemes have rocketed by 210 per cent and 106 per cent respectively.

Soaring costs of the repair work at Highcliffe zig zag path looked set to close the walkway indefinitely, until strong campaigning forced a council rethink, which culminated in additional funds being allocated to the project last month.

Cllr Claire Bath is one of the members who pushed for a review of project estimations following a number of overspends.

As reported by the Daily Echo the Avon Beach promenade reconstruction, which is currently taking place, was originally estimated to set the council back £120,000.

However, in December full council had to approve funding which took the total cost to £461,120.

Meanwhile, redevelopment work at Priory Car Park that was previously set to cost £55,000 is now expected to cost the the council £113,201.

Five schemes in the last few years came in marginally over the original budget and work at Grange Road Depot cost 69 per cent more than originally forecast.

The report to scrutiny committee says: "From the 16 completed projects, the final outturn of 10 projects were under the approved budget. Projects with significant underspends include Christchurch beach recycling scheme (-£261,244), Civic Offices refurbishment (-£46,698) and Avon Beach & Friars Cliff beach recycling works (-£21,074).

"The council has robust processes for estimating project costs, obtaining budget approvals, procuring construction works and reporting project outturns.

"Despite these processes, there are occasions when unexpected events occur which increase construction project costs."