Budget for Downlands sports centre goes up by £56,000

The new sports centre expansion at Downlands in Compton is expected to bust its budget by £56,000 – before work has started.

The contract is now up to £3.248m – going over the £3.12m allocated in the council coffers – including planned slippage of unspent budget.

Final figures will not be known until the tender process is complete.

The sports hall – on land belonging to The Downs School – will be used by pupils and the community as a leisure centre.

The building has been designed for maximum eco efficiency, including heat source pumps, solar panels and a rain water system for flushing toilets.

The build contract is now out to tender to revamp the 1980s sports centre and councillors on West Berkshire’s executive committee voted to give council officers the authority to press ahead with the tender process.

Planning permission has yet to be granted.