Waverley Borough Council has announced amendments to its proposals to refurbish a portfolio of leisure centres in Surrey, following detailed surveys of the sites.

Owing to the bad structural condition of the 37-year-old Godalming Leisure Centre, the council has now decided to allocate £2.6m worth of investment to replace the aging building with a new one.

Waverley’s portfolio holder for leisure, cllr Roger Steel, explained: “The increased financial costs incurred and worry that the site would not be safe for operation following extensive alterations has resulted in an adjustment to the plans.”

He added that the new facility could be built either on the site of the existing building or at an alternative location.

A working group of the major stakeholders involved will now consider how best to invest the capital set aside for the original enhancement project and how to acquire the inevitable shortfall in funds resulting from the change of plans.

The new facility will provide a health and fitness club, dance studio, 25m pool and a learner pool but, in the meantime, the existing facility will remain open to local residents.

The council’s plans to spend £5m on refurbishing Farnham Sports Centre are also undergoing reconsideration as a result of issues with the structural foundations of the site, which is built on an old gas works. Proposals for a two-storey extension have been put on hold, while the council deliberates how best to proceed with the current footprint.

Proposals to improve the existing leisure centre at Cranleigh will proceed as planned.

DC Leisure will also continue to manage the leisure centres at Godalming and Farnham, as well as Cranleigh, which was added to its portfolio in April 2008.