Construction work has begun on a new community sports hall on the recent Welbury & Woodholm Farm development in north Hailsham.
The facility will provide a venue for various sports activities, community events as well as private function hire and work on the multi-use space is scheduled for completion in August 2016.
The provision of a community hall and sports facility was made as part of the initial planning agreement between Hailsham Town Council and Welbury & Woodholm Farm developers Taylor Wimpey.
Hailsham Town Council, which agreed to take on responsibility of the new facility once constructed, considered various proposals for the design of the building in 2013 and formally agreed a design plan which will allow the Council to accommodate a wider variety of users and to provide improved facilities which meet the demands of the local sports clubs and community groups.
Hailsham’s Town Mayor Councillor Nigel Coltman has welcomed the project and said he is ‘proud’ to be working with the developers.
He said, “It’s important our residents are provided with the facilities they want and need and the town council is proud to be working with developers on this brilliant project.”
“The new hall will be a welcome addition to the town, offer a range of activities to benefit the local community young and old alike, and I’m sure will be widely used.”
The new sports and community building will consist of an 18m x 10m hall (18m x 19m), which will include space for a demountable stage and able to accommodate an audience of approximately 180 seated for licensed public performances.
The building will also have meeting rooms, a kitchen, store rooms, office, toilets (separate for male and female), combined indoor and outdoor changing rooms (both separate for male and female), foyer and plant room.
Changing facilities for larger sports teams will be isolated from the remainder of the building, enabling the hall to be used by internal and external hirers at the same time, although independent of each other.
The architectural style, materials and details of the proposed building will respond to, but not replicate the previously approved residential elements of the development.
A PA system and hearing loop will be installed for use by hirers and there will be ample parking on-site.
“We are in need of a new sports and community facility to cater for the increasing population locally which has come about as a result of housing developments,” said Councillor Paul Soane, chairman of the Town Council’s Strategic Projects Committee.
“The new purpose-built centre will play a key role in enabling Hailsham to fulfil its potential as a vibrant and inclusive town and we hope that the centre will be a hub of community life, offering a broad range of activities and services that meet the requirements and interests of sports clubs, businesses, public sector organisations and community groups, as well as private hirers.”
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