More than £1m needs to be spent to repair a Norwich city centre car park, which will reduce the number of spaces available for drivers while the work is done.

Norwich City Council bosses say the 'ongoing deterioration' at the 1970s-built reinforced concrete St Giles multi-storey car park has reached a point where repairs are essential.

The waterproof membrane on all the suspended decks of the 330-space car park will need to be replaced, with work due to start in the New Year.

A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said structural repairs and refurbishment of the car park surfaces in St Giles were last carried out in 2004, with a projected life span of 10 years.

She said: 'Following these repairs and under guidance from the Institution of Civil Engineers, the city council started a Life Care Plan, which put in place a programme of regular inspection to monitor the condition of the structure and identify any necessary repairs.

'On-going repairs to the car park are essential in order for us to continue to provide an important facility to support the economy of the city and maintain a crucial income stream.

'These costs will be fully recovered by the income it continues to bring in so we're simply adopting a prudent approach of 'spending-to-generate-income''.

But she stressed the car park would not have to close while the work is carried out, but added: 'There will be a reduction in available spaces in areas where work is being done but this will be on a phased basis to minimise disruption to the public.'

It is estimated that the work will cost £1.1m, which will come from the council's capital budget.

Norwich City Council's Labour-controlled cabinet will meet this Wednesday to agree which company to award the contract to repair the car park to. Eight companies had submitted tenders to do the work.

• Do you have a council story? Call Dan Grimmer on 01603 772375 or email dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk