We are delighted to announce that the first major milestone has been reached with the submission of the planning application for Mayfield’s Community and Health Centre to Wealden District Council’s (WDC) planning department on Friday 29^th July. It comprised over 1,000 pages, including all the various consultants’ reports, along with key documents such as the architect’s drawings and Design & Access and Planning Statements. It is anticipated that the application will be reviewed by WDC’s Planning Committee within the next couple of months or so. 

The latest estimated cost from the Quantity Surveyor for the build contract is just under £4M. This reflects significant increases in building and labour costs in the past year along with unforeseen costs for an electricity substation. The total project estimated build cost now stands at £4.7M including professional fees and a contingency budget for any necessary adjustments to materials and design and inflation.

It has been agreed that a ‘design and build’ type of contract will be placed which provides the opportunity for value engineering and cost reduction by the builder but we will not truly know the final cost until we are in receipt of bids from building contractors.  Meanwhile, the project team is talking informally to building contractors with appropriate experience in public sector construction. The next step will be to issue tenders with the aim of awarding the project contract by the end of 2022. 

Wherever possible existing Memorial Hall assets will be used while funds for new fixtures and fittings are being raised though grants and donations. A team of local volunteers are also forming a fund-raising group.

To summarise: the application is for a versatile 23m x 10m hall plus two offices, two meeting rooms, a spacious kitchen and a large ‘free’ community hub where anyone can meet or socialise and enjoy the views across Court Meadow. The integral health centre, three times the size of the current Mayfield doctors’ surgery, includes four GP rooms, three treatment rooms and a large waiting area. The external east-facing terrace also enjoys views with outdoor seating. The building will occupy Parish Council owned land on the previously developed site on top of Court Meadow and does not encroach on the current footpath. The existing number of car spaces will increase by 50%. WDC is wholly funding the health centre part of the project and will be renting it, with the support of the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, to Woodhill Surgery. The project is a joint venture between WDC and the Parish Council to serve the residents of Mayfield and Five Ashes.

When it goes live the planning application can be viewed on the WDC Planning Portal at planning.wealden.gov.uk where residents may express their views. Residents may also email clerk@mayfieldfiveashes.org.uk about the project and we will continue to post further information and updates at www.mayfieldfiveashes.org.uk and on the village Facebook site.