City scouts are celebrating after they secured funding for a new Golden Triangle hut worth almost £1m.
The 33rd Norwich Scout Group is planning the new £915,000 development at the group's current home in Jessopp Road after securing a grant from the government's Youth Investment Fund.
It will replace the current hut which has been in use since the 1950s and is now "falling down" and covered in mould according to scouting supremos.
The new building will allow the group to ease its year-long waiting list for children joining the scouts and offer new and extended activities for both the group itself and the wider community.
Lead volunteer Andrew Parle "could not be more excited" at the news.
He said: "Excitement is through the roof here at the moment.
"We've been at this site since the 1920s and the building hasn't changed since the 50s so it's great to be able to continue the legacy whilst also modernising the building.
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"It's a great location, it's really peaceful and tranquil away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but the building itself is falling down and it's really impacted what we can do.
"During winter we were getting ice on the inside because we have no heating and the kitchen could only fit three people in it so that really limits what we can do."
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The new log cabin will be properly heated and insulated with a larger kitchen and main hall while being carbon neutral.
Mr Parle added: "The funding is fantastic, this is going to make such a difference.
"You couldn't teach a lot of things properly in the old hut but the new one will let us take more and extend what we offer the community for toddler and art groups.
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"We're hoping to be in by Christmas next year and from then on we're expecting it to serve city scouts for the next 200 years."
The scouts are the only Norfolk group among 44 youth centres announced today to be getting a slice of £70m government funding.
Mr Parle says the scouts are looking for more volunteers to help run the group's classes and activities, with anyone interested asked to call 07974 254293.
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