Mattishall Community Project

1999 – 2009

1999

• Mattishall First School and Mattishall Middle Schools combined to form Mattishall Primary School

• First School site likely to become redundant

• Parish Council have informal discussions with Norfolk County Council

2003 -

• School site becomes redundant

• Formal expression of interest by Parish Council to buy the site

• Discussions with Mattishall Church about purchasing it jointly

• NPS acting for the County Council

• No asking price

• No concessions made by NPS

• Concept was to create a Village Green and a Community Centre

• Became apparent that some housing would have to be built on the site in order to finance the purchase

A Massive Piece of Good fortune

• Roy and Jean Barlow leave £106,000 to the Parish Council for the Village.

2006

• Agreement with Hayes Affordable Homes to build 12 houses on the site

- 9 affordable at 75% of market value, - 3 at open market value

2006

• The Barlow Charity created

• Site purchased for £275,000

• 999 year lease on land for houses simultaneously sold to Hayes Affordable Homes for £180,000.

• Hayes to pay Barlow a further £15,000 when all houses are sold.

Barlow Charity• Registered Charity and Company limited by

guarantee

• Owns and manages the project. – Village green– Car park – Old School Building – Freehold of houses – 25% of leasehold affordable houses

• Trustees appointed by the Parish Council

2007 - 8

• Section 106 agreement finalised

• 12 houses built

• Car parking completed

• Village Green completed

Later in 2007

Houses October 2009

Village Green October 2009

Community Centre Fundraising2007

• Estimated £600,000 required

• Applications made to Lottery and Communitybuilders fund.

Both unsuccessful

2008

• Barlow Charity had no cash

• Parish Council pay for insurance

Autumn 2008• Consultation and Redeemable Bond

Scheme

• Consultation with 1100 households in Mattishall to gauge support for a Community Centre– 40% of questionnaires returned

• 81% in favour• 12% against• 7% don’t know

• 220 people subscribed to Redeemable Bond Scheme

• £4,945 raised

Another Piece of Good Fortune

• Electricity sub station

Wayleave £450 per year

• Back payment of £1,127 received in 2008

• Forward payment of £3,194 for next 7 years received in 2009

2009

• Developing a business plan for Community Centre

• Working on Fundraising for converting the building.

• Plan to create a Heritage Community Centre

• Preparing application to National Lottery Heritage Fund

Old School BuildingOctober 2009

Old School BuildingOctober 2009

What has been achievedThe £106,000 legacy has become……….

• 12 Houses (9 affordable plus 3 open market)

• Car parking in the village centre

• A village green

• A school building waiting to be converted into a Community Centre