Nottinghamshire Police are set to pump an extra £500,000 into a controversial new custody suite in Radford Road due to "unavoidable Covid-19 issues."
The new 50-cell suite will replace the current facility at the Bridewell, which opened in Canal Street next to the city's magistrates court in the mid 1990s.
Police said the old custody suite is old and decaying and will cost more money in the long run to refurbish it.
The new £17m centre will be built at the old gas works in Radford Road and will be close to Radford Road police station.
In total, £17.8m had been put aside to buy the land, design and build the new custody suite, which is set to be built by Christmas 2020.
But due to Covid-19 issues, the force is having to put at extra £496,000 into the project to ensure that it is delivered on time.
Plans are also underway to sell the Bridewell custody suite.
At a Police and Crime Panel meeting held at Nottinghamshire County Council's headquarters on June 1, concerns were raised about the cost of the new custody suite.
The report states: "Lack of clarity of information from suppliers and delays in agreeing contract terms and conditions have caused a delay in the progress of this project. This is a multi-year project and overall the project is expected to be delivered on target.
"Nottingham Custody Suite having experienced delays as a result of contractual difficulties, £496,000 is due to unavoidable Covid-19 issues."
Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping told Nottinghamshire Live the centre will still be built by this Christmas and opened in March 2021.
He said: "It will be delivered on target and it will be on price. Some firms were closed down (due to coronavirus lockdown), which has caused delays but we are ramping up on getting back to normal.
"The £496,000 is to make sure we get there on time and we are re-jigging the budget.
"The present custody suite does not meet modern standards and needs significant maintenance and repair. It will be better for both staff and people being detained in a new custody suite.
"It has been our intention for a long time."
