Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee approved conversion of council house to Boughton Community hub
Plans to convert a council house into a new community centre have been approved by a council.
The proposal is for the change of use of a three bedroom council owned property on Manvers View, Boughton, into a community hub.
Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee approved the application at a meeting on February 15.
It will provide a space for skills development, social activities and support for residents and tenants.
It will also be used as a space for groups and clubs to meet and provide both vocational and academic courses for residents, using a series of iPad and desktop facilities linked to the local Further Education College.
The community centre would become a base for initiatives to grow and somewhere for residents to meet with other agencies – including the police, community safety teams, housing services, waste management, the NHS, Credit Union, CVS, Citizens Advice and Inspire.
The council says it aims to improve the health and wellbeing of residents, reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, increase feelings of safety, and create a vibrant and self-sufficient community where residents look out for each other and actively contribute to their area.
It aims to create a hub focussed on wellbeing and crime reduction within a deprived community within the Retford Road Estate and Hallam Road Estates in Boughton which are classed as highly deprived areas.
The property currently has a living room, dining room, bathroom, hall and kitchen downstairs and three bedrooms, a bathroom and landing upstairs.
The plans propose a large meeting space downstairs, where the living and dining rooms are located, and will retain a kitchen and toilet — although this will be converted to be an accessible facility.
A wheelchair ramp is also be instated at the entry.
Upstairs the three bedrooms are to be converted into a smaller library and meeting room, housing and police hub, and partnership room, with the existing bathroom retained.
The hub will operate between 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and 9am to 4pm on Sundays.
Councillor Lee Brazier, portfolio holder for housing said: "I am really pleased planning permission has been granted to start work on this exciting project. We have a Community Hub in Chatham Court in Newark which has been a real asset to the local community, and I'm excited we can bring this to Boughton.
"Tenants' and residents views will be at the heart of this project, and we are committed to making sure the Hub is a community space that reflects the wants of local people and is something they will use. It'll be a space for social gatherings but also a place where residents can gain new skills, tackle local issues together and receive support.
"Of the 139 properties our team spoke with, 110 said the Hub will benefit them and the local community. Additionally, several residents expressed their desire to be volunteers here, so it's great to see the community excited about this project. I look forward to seeing the Community Hub when works are complete."
The District Council's Housing team listened and consulted with residents on Manvers View, Stepnall Heights, Turner Lane, Swinton Copse and Bentick Close about what they would like to see from the Hub.
Ideas included arts and craft sessions, mum and babies clubs, sports days, waste management events such as litter picking, community safety events, mental health support, employment advice, healthy eating courses and social mornings and evenings.
A second application, for advertisement consent for external signage at the site, was also approved by the committee.
It outlines a number of blue and white signs which read ‘Boughton Community Hub. Working with the community, for the community to be displayed to the front and side of the property.
Work on the Hub is being partly funded through the District Council's allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The Hub is set to open to the community this spring.
