AN extra £6.8 million will be ploughed into three Dudley leisure centres – if proposals are accepted by councillors next week.

A meeting of the full council is being asked to approve the cash boost which will see a new swimming pool and sports facilities in Dudley and refurbishment of the existing buildings in Halesowen and Stourbridge.

If passed the total budget will rise to £31.3 million from an originally agreed £24.5 million.

In a report to all 72 councillors, council officers say the design for the new Dudley Leisure Centre has been improved to meet planning requirements resulting in enhanced cladding and brickwork with a feature entrance and enhanced glazing and lighting included in the new design.

The extra cash also allows for service diversions which need to be carried out but were not allowed for in the original costs. 

The report states: “In addition to the increased costs at Dudley, the budget costs at all three centres were based on a timeline of carrying out detailed design work in June 2018.  Build cost inflation accounts for a significant amount of the increase in costs.”

Set to open in 2021, the Dudley centre on Flood Street will boast a 25 metre swimming pool, a large state of the art gym, five court sports hall, plus a number of studios to host activities such as spin classes.

Cllr Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, explaining the £6.8 million increase said: “Residents have told us how important leisure facilities are to our borough and this is why we are developing these exciting plans for a brand new leisure centre in Dudley as well as fantastic refurbishments for our existing centres in Halesowen and Stourbridge. 

“Our initial cost estimates formed a starting base for our centre plans and this increase reflects our more detailed building designs as well as cost inflation in the construction industry, which has been significant for some time.”

Councillors will asked to approve the extra expenditure at their meeting on October 7.