»A new indoor play area will open in August after cabinet agreed to help fund the £1million project.

Fairlop Waters Play Centre in Forest Road, Barkingside, will be part funded by Vision Redbridge, Culture and Leisure (VRCL) to the tune of £500,000, which will cover the cost to fit out the centre, including play equipment.

The rest will be funded by Redbridge Council, who VRCL will aim to repay over five years by means of an annual deduction of £100,000 from income generated.

Building work is set to commence next month and finish in July.

Speaking after the meeting at Redbridge Town Hall, High Road, Ilford, on Tuesday, Cllr Robin Turbefield, cabinet member for leisure and youth services, said: “I am really happy this scheme is going ahead, particularly for both parents and children in the borough.”

He added: “It makes so much sense to open the centre as the borough is bursting with children who have to leave Redbridge to be able to play.”

Al’s Barn play centre was first opened on the site in the 1980s. It closed in 2006 after Redbridge Council took over the operation because there were no funds available to replace the old fittings to make the centre safe.

Cllr Turbefield added: “The centre will be an investment, with the majority of the money being recouped over a very short space of time.”

Profits are estimated to be £200,000 a year.