The council signed Willmott Dixon up for the central library and museum conversion project a year ago with a pre-contract agreement to develop the project then costed at £34m.

Following a series of in-depth negotiations, the city council is now set to sign a £22.6m contract with the private builder for the major building work.

The deal will be signed off on 20 June allowing construction work to begin this summer with completion set for late summer 2019.

The fit-out of the buildings, making up much of the balance of the project cost, will then take place ready for the official opening in spring 2020.

New natural history gallery will feature a Woolly Mammoth

A series of concept designs for several of the galleries have also been signed off in readiness for the next stage of detailed design.

Willmott Dixon started enabling works at the site in January.

The History Centre will be a brand new cultural and heritage attraction for the city highlighting the story of Plymouth and its place in the world. It’s set to open in spring 2020 as part of Plymouth’s commemorations for Mayflower 400.

Councillor Tudor Evans, Shadow Leader for Plymouth City Council said: “This is where the fun and the real work start. The construction contract and the gallery designs are massive milestones that have been made possible because of some amazing fundraising and effort by the project team.”