Community centres and library projects defy public sector cuts

Projects to construct or redevelop community centres, public libraries, and museums are defying the cuts to local authorities.

Glenigan’s construction market analysis has identified more than 1,100 projects with planning permission that include community centres, libraries, and museums and are due to start on site over the next 12 months.

Many of these projects are small in size but still represent a strong pipeline of work.

Community centre schemes recently given planning permission range from an £867,000 hub at the Paisley Sportsplex in Belfast (Glenigan Project ID: 22149658) to a £4 million redevelopment of Trinity Parish Hall in Henley-On-Thames (Glenigan Project ID: 24257642).

Levelling up

Many of the larger projects are being supported by grants from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

In Clacton, Essex County Council has secured a £20 million grant towards a larger £36.7 million regeneration development, which also includes a £10 million community hub (Glenigan Project ID: 24347299). Plans for the Clacton Hub (Pictured) were approved in September and work is expected to begin early in the New Year.

Other community developments in the pipeline due to Levelling Up grants include the £24 million Peterhead Cultural Quarter (Glenigan Project ID: 22303410). This scheme, which is due to start in November, also includes a museum, library, and event space, and is partly funded by a £20 million Levelling Up grant that is also supporting an aquarium scheme in Macduff (Glenigan Project ID: 22303411).

Other community centre schemes benefitting from Levelling Up grants and due to start on site in the coming months include a £4 million scheme at Jacobs Wells Road in Bristol and the £5 million Accrington Market Chambers development (Glenigan Project ID: 23370788).

Centre-place

Some community centre schemes form part of larger residential developments.

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is redeveloping the Harriot, Apsley and Pattison estates in east London to produce 407 flats (Glenigan Project ID: 20301697). This £35 million scheme also includes plans to redevelop the Redcoat Community Centre.

A £5 million community centre is also being built at the centre of housebuilder Bloor Homes New House Farm residential development, with work due to begin later this Autumn (Glenigan Project ID: 24131982).

Big plans

Plans to reduce carbon emissions at existing community centres are set to benefit from a £1 billion framework being set up.

The National Carbon and Energy Performance Contracting Framework is being procured by the Greater London Authority and will form part of the GLA’s support to public sector, charities and voluntary, community and social enterprises to deliver decarbonisation measures (Glenigan Project ID: 25156121).

Contractors have already applied for places on the framework, and an announcement of the successful companies is imminent. Once operational, the framework – known as RE:FIT 5 – will provide a service for public sector clients and charities to appoint contractors for decarbonisation works.

In Wales, procurement of a £1 billion framework – PB4 – by the Welsh Procurement Alliance on behalf of the LHC Procurement Group to support public sector building work, including community centres and libraries, is due to start imminently (Glenigan Project ID: 25321200).

Community service

With the shift to net zero fuelling decarbonisation works and Levelling Up grants helping support projects, community and amenity work is an area worthy of contractors’ attention.