Plans to replace Scunthorpe's Baths Hall with a new £16m entertainment venue have been given the green light by North Lincolnshire Council (NLC).

The new venue, which will retain its original 1930s frontage, will include standing area for up to 2,000 people, seating capacity of 1,200, conference facilities, a bar and a café. Work has already started on a tender process to find a contractor to build the new facility, but the decision now means the council can move forward with the appointment of an operator for the venue.

NLC will also continue with negotiations to find external funding for the scheme, with meetings scheduled to take place between the council and development agency Yorkshire Forward, as well as other organisations. However, planning approval was granted subject to a number of conditions, one of which requires the new venue to generate at least 10 per cent of its energy demands through renewable, on-site measures.

Work is scheduled to get underway in April 2010, with the council already agreeing to contribute £10m from its capital programme, and it is hoped that the new facility will be open to the public in summer 2011. NLC leader Mark Kirk said: "The decision means we can now press ahead with our plans to provide a fantastic entertainment venue that people deserve.

"We announced that we would maintain our commitment despite facing tough budget pressures, so this is a major milestone. We expect around 160,000 people to visit the new venue each year, bringing a major boost to the local economy."