Building will begin within weeks on the long-awaited new Urban Sports Park in Folkestone.

Folkestone-based building company Jenner Contractors have been named as the contractor to build the unique centre at the junction of Tontine Street and Dover Road.

The centre is said to be the first of its kind in the world but has faced snags along the way due to the innovative design, project managers admitted.

Changes to the design of the building due to spiralling build costs were approved by the council last month.

Estimates placed the original six-storey design proposed in 2015 as costing upwards of £14 million, double that of initial projections.

A review was carried out about how to trim the costs and plans to scale back the size of the building – by removing the top floor roof terrace, strengthening foundations and moving the boxing club from the basement to the ground floor – were proposed earlier this year.

Skate floors and climbing wall are remaining on the middle floors but the building will now have four floors instead of the original six.

The site has been waiting for the green light since groundwork and foundations were completed at the start of 2017.

"Planning something as untried and as ambitious as this has brought considerable challenges." Laurence Hickmott, Shepway Sports Trust chief executive

Shepway Sports Trust is going to be running the centre when it opens after the 18-month build.

Laurence Hickmott, the trust’s chief executive, said: “Planning something as untried and as ambitious as this has brought considerable challenges, and it was important to take plenty of advice, including consultations with local people, so that we could achieve what was needed.

“The project will deliver real benefits for local people and we think it will create new reasons for people to visit Folkestone.”

Martin Sandall, managing director of Jenner, said it was “an honour” to be working on the project.