MAJOR refurbishment of a leisure centre will now cost nearly £1m more than originally estimated.

On Tuesday, Darlington Borough Council cabinet members will be asked to approve the works to the Dolphin Centre.

But they will be told the original estimate of £3.55m has now spiralled to more than £5m.

The council agreed to release the resources in March for the work and it is proposed that it should borrow the extra cash.

A report to the cabinet says the increased costs are due to:

* a longer timescale and more costs in keeping the centre open to the public for the maximum possible time;

* the consultants originally omitted fees of 10pc - £385,000 - for the project;

* an original 5pc contingency sum should now be increased to £422,000;

* there are increased costs for associated works required to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

A report by Cliff Brown, director of community services, states the cost of borrowing the additional amount would be £96,000 per annum, with the projected annual out-turn ranging from a £70,800 deficit to a £164,500 surplus.

It says a deficit outcome could be accommodated in the overall medium-term financial plan for community services.

Coun Lee Vasey, cabinet member for leisure services, said that when a capital programme bid was submitted, feasibility work was in its early stages and as plans were finalised, more detailed and up-to-date costs were to be expected.

"However, this does not affect the affordability of the scheme," she said.

"We are keen to invest in what is already a good leisure facility for the town and make it into an excellent centre offering up-to-date and newly improved facilities, that will in time lead to increased usage and a financial return on our investment."

Originally, the relocation of Darlington Association on Disability and Shopmobility during the works was proposed.

However, no alternative town centre premises were available, so potential compensation payments would be included in the business plan.

The project will include a new cafe and bar with ground-floor access, improvement of the reception and customer services area, re-routing of the main entrance staircase to create a hotel-style lobby, new studios, meeting and conferencing facilities and a soft play and sensory area.

The changing rooms will be refurbished to provide a family change facility and the Bull Wynd entrance will also be upgraded and a lift installed.

The revamped centre could become a central point for people to book tickets for shows and events at the council's Arts Centre and Civic Theatre.

There are also plans to incorporate a register office and marriage hall into the scheme to create a town centre location for them.