A COMMUNITY centre and volunteer hub is to get a £92,000 new roof.

The work is set to go ahead later this summer after a senior council official authorised the final budget.

The new roof will be fitted to Blackburn's Mill Hill Community Centre.

The existing roof is leaking causing water damage to the inside of the building.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's Environmental Services director Martin Eden said in a report: "At Finance Council on Monday February 28 2022, members approved a budget of £60,000 for a

replacement roof at Mill Hill Community Centre.

"On being competitively tendered, in compliance with the council’s procurement procedures, the scheme has produced a best value tender return figure of £79,806.

"The original scope has been subject to change and the original budget estimate was established before the current increase in construction labour and materials.

"The best value tender return figure of £79,806, along with professional fees, surveys, contingencies has resulted in a budget requirement of £92,000 to replace the roof.

"Therefore an increase of £32,000 is being sought to enable the scheme to proceed.

"The Mill Hill Community Centre roof is past its current life expectancy, the roof is prone to leaking during rainfall and water ingress has often resulted in the need to carry out repairs to the internal

fabric of the building.

"The summer period would be the ideal time to re-roof the building.

"The building will remain operational during the re-roofing work.

"A £32,000 increase in budget is approved."