MCC Update – February 2024

Despite the Christmas break there has been much on-going activity with key milestones becoming tantalisingly close.

We are updating our original design brief to ensure it meets with the potential hall users’ requirements and those of Wealden District Council (WDC) planning department. We are also appointing a new architects firm, which will be provided with the updated design brief shortly.

The main project activity will be a two-stage design and build contract and the legal work is underway to finalise the various legal contractual documentation – commencing with the design contract which is expected to be placed within a few weeks.

The overall timeline suggests that our target of completion by December 2025 is still on track, subject of course to the final contractual agreement.

The Parish Council has commissioned an independent quantity surveyor to analyse the quotes that we have received from the contractors bidding for the building contract. In doing so, we can be assured of achieving the best value for money possible, and to know that we are proceeding in a justifiable manner.

With improved clarity as to timelines and individual costs we have been able to finesse the cash flow projections, which suggest that the project still continues to be financially viable. In addition, we have been actively pursuing a number of grants from third parties and we are delighted to advise that we have been successful in being awarded a substantial grant, the details of which are being finalised and therefore confirmation will follow in the next month or so. Other grant applications are in the pipeline, all of which should provide some contingency as well as ensuring the design brief can be achieved.

February is likely to be a key month and there should be a lot of good news to report in March’s monthly update.