Project history
For some years now there has been discussion and speculation on Hanborough’s requirement for a new village hall. An early idea was to merge the operations of the Recreation Hall and the Pavilion to release land to sell to fund a new hall. However, this proved impossible so the only realistic possibility was a development at the playing fields. About two years ago a joint working group of the Parish Council and HPFA began developing ideas for a new village hall to replace the Pavilion. There was a presentation of the concept at the annual parish meeting in March 2010 and large majority of the meeting were in favour. Unfortunately, over the ensuing months the working group had to accept that it would be too expensive.
So about a year ago, the same group, but with some changes in composition, began considering how to extend the original building to provide more space, greater flexibility and to enable more and wider use by the community.
Initial extension concept
Structural advice was taken and some repair work will be unavoidable in view of the condition of the roof and south wall. A computer generated concept design was the basis for discussion, all subject to available finance, agreement on detailed layout etc., and to meet the terms of a £100k grant from WODC. A nominal budget of £430k was agreed.
It was suspected, and later proved to be the case,that the maximum major village hall grant would be reduced from April 2011 so it was essential to apply in the Autumn of 2010. On a Saturday in October 2010 the plans were presented to the village at an open morning and there was general support for updating the mainly 50 year old pavilion building,
Following this, a sub-committee of HPFA organised a full village household survey with advice from ORCC and having considered examples from other communities. At the annual parish meeting in March 2011 there was a presentation of concept together with preliminary results of the village survey. Although there was still general support for improving the village hall there were also a number of issues raised.
Development of the new concept
By the time of the annual parish meeting in March 2011 it had been decided to set up a new “development working group” led by the HPFA as managers of the village hall to take the project forward. Its members were drawn from the parish council and HPFA but, as a result of the public interest at the annual meeting, for the first time, someone from outside of the PC and HPFA joined the project team.
An early task was to look at the survey results in more detail. Taking into account other village facilities this suggested that flexibility of use and the ability to use separate parts of the building for different functions concurrently, were as significant as any increase in size. Professional advice was needed in several areas – to establish trustee and contractual responsibilities and to develop a detailed functional design with robust costs.
Following competitive interviews, SWA architects of Eynsham were appointed to develop the design and an intensive series of meetings took place over the summer with the joint Working Party.
It was not the objective to produce alternative design schemes, but to produce a functional affordable scheme by way of incorporation an ‘all options’ version and a ‘minimal options’ version.
This was an intensive process which required some hard cost decisions and some radical thinking to produce a functional affordable result.
This included the need to release space within the existing building to create a linked small hall by moving the changing rooms into a new building. This creates numerous advantages including a proper ‘front’ of the building facing the car park and updated changing facilities.
Other extended facilities include an office for Parish Council use, increased storage, localised toilets, a proper entrance to the bar with toilets and basic catering, with convenient access to changing rooms. The South frontage would be equipped with canopies and a server from the kitchen.
Costs of roof and wall repair v. replacement were carefully analysed with the assistance of an engineer and Quantity Surveyor, and although repair was marginally cheaper, replacement with a steel frame and re-use of old timbers is better value for money. A steel frame allows for higher ceilings and the ability to extend southwards at a later date should the need arise and finance is available.
In brief, and maybe as expected, it was the’minimal options’ version which came within the budget of £430k. There is just under £40,000 in hand to cover certain essentials and fittings, and maybe add back some minor options depending on the results of building tenders.
Compliance with WODC grant
Discussion took place with the Head of Leisure services at WODC on 18 August 2011 who is satisfied that the developed design meets the criteria set out in his report to WODC Cabinet.
We proposed a 6 month extension to the WODC deadline to avoid last minute hitches, and this was considered reasonable.
