A £3.5 million scheme to replace the roof of The Cresset building in Peterborough is now underway.

Local construction company Lindum Group expects to be on site at the venue in until March 2025.

Its team is replacing most of the ageing flat roof with a new pitched standing seam structure, along with reroofing several of the remaining flat roofs while also improving the building’s drainage system.

The work is part of a £5.1m project to secure the long-term future of The Cresset building, which was made possible by a grant from the Youth Investment Fund.

Lindum Group MD Darren King said: “The work we are doing will improve the fabric of the building, but it will also uplift and update its appearance too. It’s quite a significant project and will involve replacing some existing flat roofs with pitched, resurfacing others and re-routing and replacing old drainage channels throughout the building.

“The Cresset is only six miles from our offices in Newark Road and its work has been enjoyed by our employees for many years.

"We are really pleased we can help ensure it remains part of the community for years to come.”

The Cresset is a trading subsidiary of YMCA Trinity Group, a charity supporting young people across Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

It currently works with up to 2,000 young people each year through performing arts programmes.

Darren Buckman, head of Cresset operations said: “We’re delighted to be working with Lindum on this project. The Cresset is a busy building, with a huge range of activities and customers under its roof every day, so the planning of the programme of works has been crucial to minimise the impact on our customers, tenants, and partners."

Lindum recently completed work at Peterborough’s Key Theatre following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in September last year.

The team worked 12-hour shifts alongside subcontractors to install a supportive timber frame and get the venue open in time for panto season.