Summary
Following purchase of the Methodist Chapel and Schoolroom in July 2022, a Working Group was set up to consider the options for the refurbishment and upgrading of the existing building, including the thermal efficiency of the building, the structural integrity and making the best use of the available space for the building’s proposed uses. Following consultation with the Community about the proposed layouts, Planning Permission was granted in January 2024 for the proposed change of use of the building to incorporate internal alterations and an extension for a new kitchen. The project has passed the first phase of the Lottery Grant application system, but escalation of the cost of materials and labour has meant that the project has now been scaled back to carrying out internal alterations to provide an accesible WC and new kitchen, as well as insulating the building and installation of new windows, doors and heating system.
The current members of the Working Group are:
John Weil (Chairman)
Christine Prince
Martin Spalton
Dan Pedley
Julia Williams
John Thorpe (Chairman of Parish Council)
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please contact John Weil on (01283) 585342.
July 2025 Update
The Working Group was disolved in May 2025, but a new Working Group has now been set up and approved by the Parish Council and is once again actively progressing the refurbishment of the Community Hall.
The results of the public consultation about the alternative layouts in March 2025 have now been reviewed. Click here to see our review of the comments and suggestions raised.
The latest architect’s drawings can be viewed here:
C101P2B – Layout and Specification
C301P2B – Cross sections and site plan
G001P2B – Project details with internal finishes table
The Structural Engineer’s calculations and drawings are currently being revised for the new layout. Approval of the revised drawings is also being sought from the Building Inspector. A Demolition and Refurbishment Asbestos survey will be carried out in early August and a bat survey will also be carried in August or early September.
Quotes for a Project Manager to lead the project through the tender process and construction phases have been obtained. We hope that all our efforts will be in time to apply for Phase 2 of the Lottery Grant, which requires us to submit quotes from builders in the autumn. Work will also need to be started on site before expiry of planning permission.
March 2025 Update
The results of the public consultation about the alternative options for the kitchen layout instead of the kitchen extension showed that Option B1 (with the kitchen near Chapel Lane) is preferred by the majority of respondents, many of whom felt that this layout will make a better use of space for overflow from the Main Hall for larger events. Various suggestions and other comments were received at the Coffee Morning on 8th March 2025.
Click here to see the full summary of the consultation and the comments and suggestions that will need to be reviewed in order to produce a final layout for the refurbishment work.
February 2025 update
Our Community Hall refurbishment plans have unfortunately had a set back. Cost estimates for the refurbishment and extension are significantly higher than expected and beyond the level of grant funding which we hope to obtain. The Parish Council has therefore decided to reduce the scale of the project.
It will still be possible to make the hall a comfortable space for events and activities, properly insulated, efficiently heated and with good kitchen and WC facilities, but it will be within the existing building, without an extension.
Two alternative layouts have been developed by the Refurbishment Working Group. Please click here to see the alternative layouts.
Please let us know your thoughts and preferences about the two new options to refurbish the Community Hall by emailing Dan Pedley (djwpedley@googlemail.com), or come along and chat to us at the coffee morning in the Community Hall on Saturday 8th March, 10am to midday.
November 2024 update
Building Control Approval
The Construction Drawings for the refurbishment and extension of the Community Hall have now received conditional approval from Building Control. Most conditions will be addressed by the Structural Engineer’s report and drawings which have now been submitted to Building Control. We hope to get final Building Control Approval by end of November which will enable us to go out to tender with full set of approved drawings.
Click here to view the building Control Approval Notice
National Lottery funding
We are delighted to advise that we have passed “Gate 1” of the National Lottery Community Funding programme, in which our submission seeking £150k was approved by the Funding Panel. Passing Gate 1 does not make it a “done deal”, but it does mean that the project appears to satisfy the National Lottery funding priorities. The submission for Gate 2 requires the tender process to have been carried out and some clarifications to queries raised at Gate 1. This will need to be submitted by around March 2025.
Drawings
Click here to view the latest Plan of the Proposed Alterations Drawing C101F
Click here to view the Proposed External Elevations Drawing C201F
Click here to view the Building Sections Drawing C301F
Click here to view the Access Statement
Click here to view the Structural Engineer’s Drawing 01B
Click here to view the Structural Engineer’s Drawing 02A
Click here to view the Structural Engineer’s Drawing 03A
We hope to start the refurbishment and extension works in 2025.
September 2024 update
The construction drawings have now been prepared and will be submitted for building control approval after the structural calculations have been completed.
Click here to view the Plan of the Proposed Alterations Drawing C101D
Click here to view the Proposed External Elevations Drawing C201D
Click here to view the Building Sections Drawing C301D
A grant application will shortly be submitted to the National Lottery to seek funding for the works. We hope to have a response in early December.
Over the next few months we will continue to look at the options for heating and lighting the building, and carrying out various surveys to be able to complete the design of the works and start to obtain construction estimates. We hope to start the refurbishment and extension works in 2025.
June 2023 Update
The Architect has now finalised the drawings and submitted a planning application on behalf of the Parish Council for the alterations to the Community Hall.
Click here to see the proposed layout drawing with the new kitchen and accessible entrance.
Click here to see the proposed elevations.
Planning Permission was granted in January 2024 for the proposed change of use of the building to incorporate the internal alterations and the proposed extension.
Click here to view the Decision Notice.
November 2022
Various proposals (layout options) for upgrading and refurbishing the Community Hall were generated for consultation at an Open Day event in November 2022.
The layout options and results of the consultation at the Open Day can be found by clicking here.