The Story Continues

An interesting 2025!

Started wit positive indications from our local Councillor Sue Saddington that we are on our way to acquiring part of the school site, this was as a result of a meeting in December 2024!

Here we are a year later having agreed terms with the council officials and await our proposal being agreed or rejected by, firstly; the Property and Finance Committee then the full Cabinet for their approval.

We have been informed that the proposal will go to Committee on January 5th after the cancellation of their last meeting in December.

Early indications are positive, but it has been a very long process to arrive here, if this is a positive outcome, the next major phase begins:

Agreeing the legal contract and any caveats

Re-engaging the villagers and hopefully building enthusiasm. Helping inform the architects brief to build what we need together with a realistic budget!

Raising development funds to pay for professionals: solicitors, numerous surveys for the site, architects and quantity surveyors etc. Also to fund the purchase of the property!

Phase two will also prepare a business plan to assist with winning grants and will also be scrutinised by experts to ensure we meet the required standards to gain the coveted Community Share Mark approval. The later gives social investors in the project assurance that our plan is realistic and viable. It may also help influence Grant providers and assist in the main fundraising efforts for Phase three ‘funding the building and kitting out’