Work is now proceeding at pace.

A preliminary design has been produced with the main criteria being that both the hall and the community hub will look out over Court Meadow – deemed to be an important requirement for those using the community centre in the future.

The architect’s contract is about to be placed whereupon the design will be finessed with a view to having a public consultation in the next couple of months or so, followed by an application for planning permission. This is the outcome of discussion with the local Planning Authority, which suggested that despite the original Plan A having received planning approval, Plan B, being slightly smaller in order to meet the budget, is sufficiently different to require a new application. The outcome of the planning process is expected in the Autumn.

Once planning approval has been obtained and the final design drawings have been made available, the main build contract will be placed, which is expected to be around the end of the current calendar year. We are therefore still targeting completion for December 2025 if all goes to plan.

An independent quantity surveyor was appointed by the Parish Council to analyse the submissions that we have received from interested contractors for the building contract. The analysis suggests that the current approach provides value for money, together with some certainty regarding costs via a fixed price contract and the experience and quality are what we would wish for – so we have the confidence that we are proceeding in a justifiable manner.

The cashflow projections have been further finessed and the project is still viable, especially with the £250k capital grant awarded from the Community Ownership Fund (COF). Other grant applications are in the pipeline, all of which should provide some contingency as well as ensuring the design brief can be achieved.

Further information will be also be available on the village Facebook site and the Mayfield and Five Ashes Parish Council website www.mayfieldfiveashes.org.uk, as it becomes available.

15 February 2024