Village Hall Update – Old School House, Glinton Road

Over the past few weeks, a number of residents have contacted us about the Old School House on Glinton Road, which has recently come onto the market. Some have asked whether it could be a possible alternative site for a new village hall.

Once we became aware of the listing, the Trustees arranged a viewing and agreed that it should be assessed alongside our other options, using the same criteria we’ve applied to all potential sites — including size, parking, road access, affordability, impact on neighbours and deliverability within five years.

There’s no doubt that the Old School House is a lovely historic building and, with significant renovation, could be very attractive. However, after careful consideration, we have decided not to take it forward.

Here’s why:

• Cost – The asking price is £550,000. Renovation costs are estimated to be in the region of £650,000–£700,000. This level of investment is beyond what we could realistically secure in the timeframe required for an open market purchase.
• Extent of works needed – The building has been vacant since 1966 and would require major repairs, including roof works, to prevent further deterioration.
• Access issues – Following discussions with the City Council, we’ve been advised that the current vehicle access does not meet requirements for a public building and cannot be brought up to the necessary standard within the site’s constraints.
• Size and flexibility – At around 200 square metres, the building is only slightly larger than our current hall and would not provide the modern, flexible space we’re aiming to create.
• Proximity to neighbours – The building is very close to surrounding homes, which could create challenges around noise and activity.

Taking all of this into account, the Trustees feel it would not be a practical or financially responsible option to pursue.

We will therefore continue progressing our work towards purchasing land on Heath Road and look forward to sharing further updates with you soon.

As always, thank you for your interest, ideas and ongoing support — it really is appreciated.

If you have any comments or questions relating to this, please feel free to contact us via email at: helpstonvillagehall@gmail.com