Building Project

The architect brief included a number of key elements:

• Make the building (in particular the entrance) more welcoming, eye catching and accessible
• Improve the general facilities (particularly kitchen and toilets) - the church does not have what most people would recognise as a proper kitchen currently
• Allow people to see into to the main part of the building (where appropriate), to potentially increase interest in what’s going on inside at a particular point in time
• Increase natural lighting
• Make better use of existing space (dead space, corridor etc), and as far as practicable increase flexibility of the building
The approved plans address most of the above elements, although there were obvious limitations due to the existing layout and structure, and likely costs.

Key elements of the plans includes:

• A new Fire Exit (into Car Park), which improves overall safety and egress for people with mobility issues or wheelchairs etc.
• A large picture window in the front elevation of the church
• A new kitchen with robust commercial-style fittings
• Improved toilet facilities, including improved disabled facilities, and baby changing area
• New bi-fold screening to provide separation (when required) of the new Coffee Bar area and main church/sanctuary
• A new light and airy Entrance ‘pod’ with much improved accessibility
• Detailed changes in configuration of space to allow existing space to be better utilised

Through our Architect, we have had quotes for the main building work and most of the more specialised work (e.g. bi-folds), and an estimate for kitchen fittings, and they have also helped us come up with estimates for the items not specifically itemised e.g. lighting, furniture and fittings.

The total cost is projected to be £229K (excluding professional fees and contingency costs, which are being borne by the church).

We have met the prospective builder and are proposing to extend the engagement of our architects (DMS) to support our Fabric Committee in providing oversight of the building work. The builder will appoint a Project Manager to take overall responsibility and ensure compliance on Health and Safety.

We would of course like to undertake the full scope of the proposed plans, but the work can be phased, though this will increase disruption and incur potential additional cost, and would need to be discussed with our builder.

We would envisage Phase 1 to encompass the new Fire Exit, new toilets and kitchen, new window or bi-folds in front wall, and ideally internal bi-fold screens. Other work including the new entrance ‘pod’ would be deferred to later phase(s).