Building Our Community Bow Brickhill Community Hub
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Building our Community Bow Brickhill Community Hub Project name: Bow Brickhill Community Hub Organisation: ASTRA Community Projects, 28 Church Road, Bow Brickhill, MILTON KEYNES, MK17 9LD www.astracommunityprojects.org Main contact: Alan Preen, Chairman, (Address as above) T: 01908 647003 Project address: The Church Hall, Church Road, Bow Brickhill, MILTON KEYNES Project postcode: MK17 9LH Local Authority: Milton Keynes Council ASTRA Community Projects www.astracommunityprojects.org 1 For six years, securing our village hall has been Contents ASTRA’s big ambition - our target destination. 1. Overview 3 - 4 You won’t be surprised to hear that at times it’s 2. The Project 5 - 6 felt like a long and tough haul. 3. Why it’s important 7 But this is a project with long-term value and 4. Funding 8 reward, and the team at ASTRA always 5. ASTRA Community Projects 9 - 10 anticipated that making it happen might also 6. Options Appraisal 11 - 15 be a longer term process. 7. Construction Phase Plan 16 Yet something we didn’t fully anticipate was 8. Community Engagement 17 the value generated because of that long journey: the amazing events that ASTRA has organised Alan Preen, 9. Connecting & Improving 18-19 haven’t just raised funds, but raised spirits, Chair of ASTRA. improved community cohesion, built new and Appendix strengthened existing relationships, made people feel needed in the community, and created a lot of A. Ownership 22 fun and smiles. B. Surveys & Design 27 Of course, the journey doesn’t end when we C. Summary of Capital Costs 128 arrive at our destination. Indeed, the opening D. Construction Plan 130 of a new hall will simply be the continuation of a century-long journey for the community E. Contractor Quotes 132 of Bow Brickhill. F. Planning & Building Regulation 143 For all of us involved in making this submission it’s G. Funding Confirmation 147 a poignant reminder this project is not really about a building, it's about building our community. I hope this document gives you the confidence to help us to continue our journey. ASTRA Community Projects www.astracommunityprojects.org 2 and lighting systems. This will lead to an increase 1. Overview in the range of services and activities offered for the benefit of not only village residents but many About our village others in the wider Milton Keynes area. Bow Brickhill is an ancient settlement nestling into the Greensand Ridge to the south west of Milton The problem Keynes. Within an Area of Attractive Landscape Built in 1898 and renovated in the mid 20th the village is physically separate from the urban Century, structural surveys show the existing hall mass of Milton Keynes. Its location, rural is living on borrowed time, being more expensive atmosphere, ancient footpaths and bridleways to repair than replace. Left untouched safety/ and steep and winding road to the hilltop are accessibility issues will force its closure over the important aspects of the character of the village next 12 - 24 months. and its strong sense of community. However village life in Bow is under threat: thousands of new homes, a huge industrial park, A view of Bow Brickhill. and a new rail line are all planned within 2km of the village. Yet whilst there is concern that Bow is Tower (All Saints Tower Restoration Appeal - being planned out of existence, the village ASTRA). Although affiliated to the PCC the group accepts it must adapt and discover new ways and is run by the community, is open to all (comprising roles for itself. Protecting its much used and loved a largely secular Committee) and is very active village hall is critical to allowing this to happen. in fundraising for its projects having raised in excess of £70,000 supported by thousands of About ASTRA volunteer hours. ASTRA Community Projects is an action-oriented group of residents delivering projects that protect Our Current Project and enhance important village assets that make Bow Brickhill’s Village Hall's re-development a tangible difference to our community. ASTRA is project will demolish the current outdated and Our ‘not-for-profit’ management of the hall ensures a sub-committee of Bow Brickhill Parochial unfit village hall and build a new Community Hub that our village playgroup (rated ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED) is affordable to all. Church Council and has already completed its first on the existing site. The new building will increase project restoring the village’s medieval Church usable space, introducing attractive design features and create a multifunction building accessible to all with effective and efficient heating ASTRA Community Projects www.astracommunityprojects.org 3 Why this is important How the Community Fund can help We urgently need your help Our hall helps bring our community together, We are asking for £100,000 in capital funding ASTRA have been doggedly pursuing our maintaining and building relationships in and from The National Lottery Community Fund, which ambition for six years. Despite our efforts, the hall across our village and beyond. The village already will contribute to our total project costs of has inevitably continued to deteriorate. Our stark has a shortfall of indoor community space, with c£370,000*. As our requirement is for capital reality is that if we fail to secure Community Fund the only other indoor space - the village Sports funding, this is a one-off contribution. support, a time sensitive window will inevitably Pavilion - used close to capacity. As our close and the village hall will likely have to be population grows (from 562 in 2011 to an Co-funders for this project are as follows: abandoned by 2021. expected 1,000 by 2025!) the Hall will have significantly greater demands made of it. If we ASTRA reserves**: c £20,000 We have to act now: lose it, it will be impossible to replace and we fear Private donation: £100,000 its loss will signal the start of the demise of the Parish Council: S106 money: £26,000 - because the building is close to failing; community spirit that has been so important to Milton Keynes Council: £100,000 - to meet production slots for the main this historic village. Gift Aid: £10,000 construction elements. Our progress so far A Community Fund pledge by mid April 2020 It’s taken a long time but ASTRA have made great * Please see Appendix C2 for full project budget. can save our hall. progress. We have our community behind us, a design, a plan, planning permission, construction ** To date ASTRA CP have spent c£22,000 methods agreed, contractors ready to start, and of fundraised monies on temporary repairs, necessary the skills to fulfil our ambition. And we have professional and service fees including surveys, secured 75% of the £351,500 that it’s going take. architect designs and plans, planning fees and tree removal. Yet despite our efforts the project is at serious risk unless we can secure the last £100,000. “This is about building a sustainable, resilient village that engages its young people, respects it’s older residents and embraces - not fears - the challenges of living on the edge of a modern city” Our Brownies have been based at Alan Preen, ASTRA Chair the village hall for over 70 years. ASTRA Community Projects www.astracommunityprojects.org 4 Rainbows, as well as community and social 2. The project interest groups like the History Group, amongst other non-profit making village organisations. All Our project proposes the demolition of the benefit from the low cost facilities provided. existing Hall and the construction of a replacement community facility on the same site. It is important to note that the new building will not compromise the viability of the village Sports The existing building is in desperate state. Not Pavilion. Indeed, our project has the support of only does the deteriorating state make it the Parish Council and it is our priority that the unattractive to users, it is not easily accessible, Hall will continue to complement the Sports presents safeguarding and security concerns, Pavilion by ensuring that families, small groups, lacks storage space, is inflexible, energy-inefficient An ASTRA presentation to the community. the very young and the elderly, and those perhaps and costly to maintain. struggling to socially engage, are supported. In 2016, ASTRA put together a ‘community brief’ and in response our architects proposed a plan Structural repairs and renovation have been for its renewal which has been tested at two considered but a redevelopment of the facility is public village meetings, attracting overwhelming the only feasible and sustainable solution given support. In 2017 ASTRA CP secured full Planning the extent of the repairs required. Unless we can Permission for the project. act in 2020 it will be condemned. The Hall is owned by the Parochial Church Council and run on a `not for profit’ basis, being managed by residents from across both the faith and secular community. It was built in 1898 by private donation and fundraising and offers the community affordable if not free accommodation Vital village services including our Lunch Club are at to this day – an incredible 120 years service to our risk if we can’t secure Community Fund support. community. It is used to capacity and limits, much like the ‘There stand the three Brickhills, all in village Sports Pavilion, for social events, much a row, Great Brickhill, Little Brickhill needed Pre-School services, Parents and Toddlers, a `Drop-in’ club, Lunch Club, Brownies, and Brickhill with the Bow.’ Our existing village hall is much loved but now beyond saving Historic rhyme of unknown origins ASTRA Community Projects www.astracommunityprojects.org 5 The replacement building will provide a Externally the scheme proposes to upgrade the Secure segregation of the building and site has contemporary yet traditional facility with much outdoor space, introducing an area of hard been designed to meet child safeguarding improved accessibility.