May 2025

There have been three major developments around the new plans for a Community Centre. The first is the work involving matching the original plans to the money available. The second is development of a plan for the MUGA and the third is additional money for sports changing rooms. 

1- New floor plan

Our architect has been working on a new design to maximise the floor space but reduce costs. His original design, in our last update, proved too costly still. As a result of this the new design attached has been developed. The structure is simplified in shape and slightly repositioned to enable future expansion. The main reduction in size has been taken from the main hall but it’s being constructed in such a way that it can be extended in future if funding becomes available. The reduced main hall size is still significantly larger than the hall at The Cabin by about 50%. There is also a possibility of extending into the now long pitched roof design with second floor rooms or storage. 

These designs are still subject to changes but are very close to where we think the final design will be. The design and affordability gap is almost closed now. Tweaks regarding air source heating or ground source heating are still to be resolved, plus the size and position of the power plant to run these. 

Any comments regarding the new designs are very welcome. 

2- Sports Changing Rooms

There is still £60k grant money, not included in the build money of £1.4m, that is allocated for officials’ changing facilities that were to be included in our original plan. This now looks likely to be used to add rooms to the existing pavilion.

3- Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) Development

The Parish Council has been gathering together design ideas for redevelopment of the MUGA. The new community centre will use three metres of the MUGA from the pavilion side leaving approximately 1000 sqm. 

There is up to £185k to develop, resurface and re-fence this area that is separate from the £1.4m for the building. The design above, from Play Innovations, shows an idea of what we might achieve with this money. This design includes a five a side pitch, basketball court, two pickle ball or short tennis courts, additional play equipment for  children and some outdoor gym equipment.      

We have collected ideas from visiting similar schemes, ideas from the community and the School. It is intended that the MUGA should be as stated, a Multi Use Games Area with a wide range of uses for all ages and available at all times for games and recreational activities. 

So far this is still in the early stages of planning and very much open to changes and improvements. 

Finally- All three sections above can be planned concurrently.  All three under one umbrella  will enable coordination of the work and timing of the three projects. 

Alan West (on behalf of HCCWG)