We aim to replace the existing social centre at 117 St Mary’s Lane with a new building that will provide better facilities for the parish and wider community, and enhance the local area whilst meeting modern standards of sustainability and accessibility.
The present building is the base for a Pre-School, a Social Club, and a number of other groups and activities. These would all continue in the proposed new building but we lack space for larger gatherings, and the number of flexible meeting spaces that a busy parish needs.
Built in the 1970s in a lightweight form of construction, the present building is difficult to adequately heat and cool, and requires regular costly attention to resolve water ingress and other issues. Many parts of the building fall short of what users expect. In short, it is no longer fit for purpose.
A parish working group has been meeting with a firm of architects who have previously worked in the diocese, to develop plans for a new building. Working within the constraints of the existing site has presented a challenge with our architects have risen to, and various iterations have led to an exciting design for a building which meets all our needs and wishes. These plans are shortly to be unveiled in early Autumn.
Come and see: Monday 14th September 6pm-8pm
We have already received initial advice from the local authority, which has informed our design process. Over the summer, our architects have commissioned various surveys and reports, working with a firm of planning consultants to prepare the full planning application, to be submitted in the early Autumn. In the meantime we will be commissioning a full costing from a quantity surveyor, in order to apply for grants and provide clear information as we launch a fundraising campaign.
Possible timescale
Early 2027: Planning decision
Spring 2027: Tender process
Summer 2027: Demolition and construction work begins
Winter 2028/9: New Centre opens
The majority of the project – 65-75% – will be funded by the sale of a former Mass Centre and Hall located on Front Lane in Cranham. This building was effectively a twin of the Social Centre, built in a similar manner of construction though considerably larger and with a large field adjoining the building. The decision to sell this site, which no longer meets our needs, was taken in tandem with the decision to build a new Parish Centre next to the church. The sale is now close to completion, and will remain a place of Christian Worship. A good price was achieved, inline with professional guidance, following an open sale process which complied with our legal responsibilities as a charity. Nevertheless, we still need to bridge the gap to the full cost of the new building, currently projected at £2-£2.5 million.
We will be applying for help from various grant-making bodies, but are also hopeful that the local community and especially the parish and school communities will support this project as generously as those past generations who built the church and its other buildings. An appeal will be launched later in the autumn once we have a full costing, but we are grateful for early contributions, which can be made online here or via the giving screens in the church and social centre.
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