Plans for the Future

Current Limitations

Our parish area is growing by about 60% with the new build of 401 homes at Donnington Heights and Shaw Valley. No extra social infrastructure of any type for the local community, was approved as part of the planning process.

With just this one main room for hire, the hall can’t accommodate the increased local demand to hire the hall for events; we’ve also had to turn away activity and exercise groups that want to hire the hall to run classes for the local area.

We are limited to only building on the land the Charity Commission holds in Trust for us because the hall is surrounded by land all owned by the Diocese of Oxford and The Church: the primary school, the allotments, Foxglove House next door and the car park which we lease.

From the Parish Plan Refresh, that was completed by the Parish Council in 2023, we have used the feedback from local people about this topic, which clearly showed the local wish for more social facilities.

The Future

We are planning to build two wings out to the north, from the rear lobby, to the railings which is our land boundary.

In one wing, by replacing the old conservatory from 1998, this will give us a second hall about 1/3 of this size, for small parties and group activities, plus on the other side, a small community room and new, improved toilets and kitchen facilities.

A planning application has just been submitted, and when approved by WBC, we will begin seeking grants and donations to raise the money needed for the build.