The London borough of Hackney has started to look for a contractor to carry out at least £5m of repairs on the troubled Clissold leisure centre.

The council has issued a tender in the Official Journal of the European Union for the £32m amenity, which has been closed since December 2003.

The notice says that remedial works to the lottery-funded project will involve general works and modifications to the pool area, shower and changing room facilities, sports hall, plant room, squash courts, dance studio and health and fitness suite

A council spokesperson said no figure could be put on the cost of the repairs as as it was unclear what the cost of remedying the defects to the roof would be.

Engineer Arup and architect Bickerdike Allen submitted a report detailing the defects to the council in October. They are still working on solutions to the problems.

The centre was designed by Hodder Associates with Davis Langdon as cost consultant, Whitbybird as engineer and Gleeson as main contractor. It hit problems after time and cost overruns pushed the budget from £11.3m to £32m. It was due to be finished in 1999, but did not open until 2002.

The council said in November that £5.1m had been set aside to cover repair work on the centre.

Firms have until 14 March to register their interest.