THE COST of transforming two of Hampshire’s most historic buildings has soared by almost £400,000.

Repairs and improvements to Eling Tide Mill and a nearby heritage centre are now set to come with a price tag of almost £2 million – way above the original estimate of £1.6 million.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has come to the rescue with an extra £330,000 but the district and town councils will have make up the rest of the shortfall by donating £33,618 each.

The scheme has also been hit by a nine-month delay, with the new facilities now unlikely to open until next year.

The district council’s extra contribution was approved at a meeting of the authority’s ruling cabinet.

Members heard that the price hike was largely due to inflation within the building industry, with construction costs soaring by 17.15 per cent in the past three years.

The scheme aims to improve access to the mill and enable visitors to see more of the Grade II listed building.

Dubbed the Eling Experience, the project will also result in the heritage centre – a former steam mill – being converted into a learning centre with a new-look cafe and an area reserved for schoolchildren and other visiting groups.

Improvements to nearby Bartley Water and Goatee Beach are also planned.

The mill machinery has been refurbished and the ancient timbers treated but most of the other work has yet to be done.

The project was approved in 2014 when the HLF agreed to donate £1.3 million, with the district and town councils contributing £165,000 and £65,000 respectively.

James Binns (pictured) cabinet member for health and leisure, said he was pleased the Lottery had provided extra funding.

“Since we started the scheme inflation has increased by a significant 17.5 per cent,” he said.

“Working in partnership with Totton and Eling Town Council we have been able to find a solution which, when completed, will enhance the cultural and historical value of the New Forest further still.”