The Salvation Army has been given planning permission to extend its youth hall - which is to be built and paid for by the community.

White Hill division Captain Jonathan Kellman said he expected work to begin on the new extension in a couple of weeks, and said it would probably be finished within three months.

The Somerset branch of the Salvation Army has been fundraising for four years to gather enough money together to enlarge its youth hall, which is used by the community, as well as the charity, for a variety of meetings, gatherings and organisations.

Some $20,000 has now been raised to pay for materials, but all of the construction work is to be provided free of charge by members of the community.

"We have a youth hall now, but basically it is too small and we have to share it with so many other things," said Capt. Kellman.

"We are now going to be building another room onto the end of it. It will give us more room to do more programmes. The new room will be more community-based. It will be very well used."

Capt. Kellman said the extension would have cost considerably more than $20,000, but locals had offered their valuable services and expertise free of charge.

He added: "Everyone is coming together to give us free labour."

The planning department granted planning permission for the youth hall on Middle Road, Sandys, to be extended, but said, prior to commencement of the work, a separate application for a building permit had to be submitted and approved.