SPIRALLING costs to refurbish Urmston Leisure Centre will set Trafford taxpayers back an extra £500,000, bringing the total cost to nearly £7million.

In September, the then Conservative-led authority approved a £6.45million spend to pay for the leisure centre’s overhaul.  

Willmott Dixon was chosen to deliver the scheme, but the tender price ‘exceeded the budget’, say council bosses.

A council spokesman said: "Negotiations are continuing over a gap of £590,000 but the expectation is that by reviewing fees and contingency levels this can be reduced to £500,000."

“Whilst the option to re-tender exists it is not thought that this will achieve a lower contract sum than that currently negotiated.”

Members of Trafford council’s executive board approved the additional funding during Tuesday’s meeting.

Labour council leader and committee chairman, Cllr Andrew Western, said it was important that councillors agreed the additional spend.

“That said, we will be keeping a close eye on the borough’s leisure strategy, and the costs involved,  which have spiralled a lot since the initial £24million was agreed,” he said.

The reason for the increase is partly due to sub-contractors pricing being higher and items needing to be replaced rather than refurbished.

A council spokesman added: “A pause was initiated to evaluate the options to bring costs back into line. The evaluation identified that a further £500,000 would be needed to ensure that, with some changes, the scheme could continue.

"However, there is a requirement to submit a new planning application based on revised architectural drawings. The exact timing of the planning application and construction work will be confirmed in due course.

“In addition, a consultation on the design changes will be undertaken as part of the application.”

Once complete, the new leisure facilities will include a state-of-the-art glass-fronted gym with a training area on the first floor and views across the front of the building.

The existing swimming pool will be upgraded and a wellness studio will be situated on the ground floor, designed to offer health-focussed training for the entire community – from elite athletes to those who are currently physically inactive.

Upgrades at Urmston form a part of Trafford Council’s overarching plans for leisure improvements across the entire borough.

In November 2016, the council revealed plans to invest £24.4million in improving the region’s leisure facilities, as part of its Physical Activity Vision leisure strategy.

The council, which owns nine leisure centres in Greater Manchester, said the investment was needed after a joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) – published in 2016 – estimated that physical inactivity was costing the council nearly £5million each year in health related costs.