Wates is to begin major construction work on the Sandwell Aquatics Centre which will be used in the Commonwealth Games in the New Year, as it emerged that the cost of the project has risen to £73m.
The project was originally expected to cost around £60m. The final budget for the scheme reflected updated costs for groundworks, construction prices and contingencies built in by Sandwell Council and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games budget.
Councillors are set to sign off funding and contract agreements at a meeting next week.
The new facility at Londonderry Lane in Smethwick will host the swimming and diving events at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Sandwell Council will contribute £27m with another £38.5m coming from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games budget. A further £7.6m is funded by other partners including Sport England, Black Country LEP, Sandwell Leisure Trust and the University of Wolverhampton.
When complete, the centre will have a 50m Olympic-sized swimming pool, a 25m diving pool and a studio pool along with 1,000 permanent spectator seats. Additional seating will be added on a temporary basis for the Games.
