Stoke Gifford Parish Council has submitted a planning application to extend and enhance the existing community hall within Little Stoke Park.
The proposals will provide new sports changing facilities, an ancillary café, an enlarged office for council staff and a larger meeting room. The retained elements will be refurbished and a new bin store and external store will be formed with the existing parking and landscaping being retained.
According to the ‘design and access statement’ submitted with the application, the proposed works will “support the parish’s ambition and aspiration to engender community spirit, activities and cohesion by providing new and improved facilities that can be used for and by the public”.
The proposed works will increase the existing gross floor area from 352.8sqm (plus 19.3sqm external store) to 551.7sqm, an increase of 48.3 percent.
The majority of the proposed works will be on the north side of the existing building, within the area currently used for external storage, which currently has no public access or right of way.
Internally, the new accommodation will provide:
- Two changing rooms with lockers, showers, toilets and treatment bench for two teams
- Two officials’ changing rooms with associated lockers, shower and toilets
- Two small stores for sports equipment and a plant room with external access
- Café with associated kitchen, servery/bar and utility
- New entrance, office and meeting room
The new café will be located on the north-east corner of the extended building and will feature two large concertina doors, allowing greater connection to the outside that can be opened during warmer months and, when closed, allow greater visibility due to the large area of glass.
The scheme is being funded with housing developer S106 contributions arising from the Charlton Hayes development.
Plans may be viewed on the South Gloucestershire Council website under reference PT16/4896/F. Consultation is open until 26th September.
Image: Visualisation showing path from car park leading to new entrance on the side of the extended building and the new café.
This article originally appeared in the September 2016 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
South Gloucestershire Council approved the planning application on 21st October 2016. The decision notice has been published on the planning portal (see link in story above).