Emotional day for councillor after long-awaited Northampton community centre overhaul finished

Parts of the community centre had not been redecorated for more than 40 years before the extension
By Carly Roberts
Published 16th Jul 2020, 16:00 BST
Updated 16th Jul 2020, 16:30 BST
Northampton Borough Councillor for Rectory Farm James Hill standing proud outside the community centre after works have been completed. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.Northampton Borough Councillor for Rectory Farm James Hill standing proud outside the community centre after works have been completed. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.
Northampton Borough Councillor for Rectory Farm James Hill standing proud outside the community centre after works have been completed. Pictures by Kirsty Edmonds.

The Rectory Farm Community Centre face lift has finally been completed - nine months after Goodfellow Construction first stepped foot on site back in October.

But renovation plans have been in the pipework for about four years.

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It comes as the borough council was paid an out-of-court settlement by Hawthorn Leisure in 2017 from a 'community covenant' when they applied to convert the Barn Owl pub into a Co-op supermarket.

Chair of Rectory Farm Residents' Association Toby Birch, borough councillor for Rectory Farm James Hill and construction director for Goodfellow Stuart Johnson on site at the community centre back in October 2019.Chair of Rectory Farm Residents' Association Toby Birch, borough councillor for Rectory Farm James Hill and construction director for Goodfellow Stuart Johnson on site at the community centre back in October 2019.
Chair of Rectory Farm Residents' Association Toby Birch, borough councillor for Rectory Farm James Hill and construction director for Goodfellow Stuart Johnson on site at the community centre back in October 2019.

It has meant the £300,000 renovation could be part funded by a £100,000 compensation payout by Hawthorn Leisure and the remaining £200,000 was approved by borough council cabinet.

This money was then earmarked to be put back into Rectory Farm, which has now been used entirely to renovate the community centre.

Renovation works have included a brand new kitchen, a second 75 square metre hall for weddings receptions and community groups and a safe outdoor garden to be used by the play group.

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It is hoped the hall will be available to safely hire out from September and discussions are being had about decorating the play school.

The community centre will be available to hire from September.The community centre will be available to hire from September.
The community centre will be available to hire from September.

Councillor James Hill (Con, Rectory Farm) said the community was really dissapointed to lose the pub but groups will now benefit from the new space

He said: "It's quite nice to know that this will be here for decades to come.

"It's quite emotional actually when you see it finished, seeing it in the flesh is so different from seeing the plans.

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"It will have a massive impact, we have doubled the capacity with what we can offer the community now."

The pristine new and second hall has already seen interest from community groups, including over 50s clubs.The pristine new and second hall has already seen interest from community groups, including over 50s clubs.
The pristine new and second hall has already seen interest from community groups, including over 50s clubs.

Toby Birch, chair of Rectory Farm Residents' Association, added: "This has been an amazing achievement to have the community centre developed and the addition of a new

is a real boost for the community. It will open up new opportunities.

"I am very much looking forward to opening the new revised site. At some point we will have an official opening community event.

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"The standard of work is great and will be a big boost for the community and Community Spaces Northampton. It has been a fantastic opportunity to work with the architects, builders, contractors, the local community, and NBC officers and councillor James Hill on this successful development - it is a vast improvement on the previous centre."

Related topics:NorthamptonJames Hill

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