The New Chalfont St Peter Community Centre Re-development Project.
Chalfont St Peter Community Centre is awaiting a new build, stay up to date with changes and news about the new build below
Do we Think we Need a New Community Centre in our Village?
The Community Centre
Re- development Committee sent a comprehensive Needs Assessment to 5,500 homes in our village in June 2018 to ask this question:
92% of Respondents said YES!
So What Have we Done Since the Needs Assessment
in June 2018?
Completed a Feasibility Study, the main outcomes of which were that, subject to planning approval, it was feasible to:
Build a new, larger, community centre on the same site whilst continuing to keep the existing community centre open.
Reduce running costs and carbon emissions considerably.
Increase carparking spaces.
At a VAT inclusive cost of between £5.5M and £6M by 2023.
Completed an initial design and conducted a successful and encouraging pre-application meeting with the then Chiltern District Council, which confirmed a cost of £6M and a completion date of October 2023.
We have produced a 'walkthrough' video of the layout of the outline design of the proposed new community centre which can be viewed here.
We also have pictures which reflect certain aspects of the design of the new community centre.
So What is Wrong with the Existing Community Centre?
Too small. 2,500 people use the Community Centre every week. It can no longer cope with the demands of the village and there are plans to build at least another 560 houses in the Parish. We need a bigger hall and more rooms to meet the demand now and in the future.
Too old/too expensive to run. Most of the rooms within the Community Centre are over 50 years old and are constructed of thin wooden walls and flat 1960/70s style rooves. They are therefore expensive to heat and maintain.
Not environmentally friendly. Its poor construction and design, combined with its old heating systems make it very energy inefficient and give it a high carbon footprint.
Not enough carparking. There are simply too few carparking spaces for those who need to drive to the Centre in order to use it.
Does not look good. Appearance does not add to the appeal of the village.
ALL OF THESE SHORTFALLS WILL BECOME WORSE AND MORE NOTICEABLE OVER TIME
What are we Doing Next?
As a result of COVID 19 we have now had to delay our completion date by a year to October 2024. However, we are still planning to go ahead with the project, in spite of the additional challenges introduced by COVID 19, because without this project the village will cease to have a community centre in the not too distant future.
But we need major support from the village if we are to be able to o raise the £250,000 that will secure final planning permission and establish a proper fundraising programme for the future.
Once we have planning permission, it should be easier to raise funds from various external sources.
