Thanks to www.malvernhills.gov.uk
The brand new community centre on the Malvern Vale housing development has been officially opened.
The opening ceremony on Monday 28th January brought together all of the key players who worked together on the project to formally open the building which will serve not just Malvern Vale residents but also those in the surrounding areas.
The community centre features two indoor multi-functional halls, changing rooms for sport, a bar/café area, kitchen and a 50 space car park. An outdoor grass area marked for football, but available for suitable alternative use, will be completed by the spring. The centre will be open to the public 7 days a week and is available for hire by either individuals or community groups.
The cost of the building, which is owned by the council but managed by the YMCA, totalled around £800,000, raised through Section 106 funding attached to the Malvern Vale housing development as a whole. Persimmon Homes, who were the site developers, have contributed a further £420,000 for on-going maintenance of the centre.
Pictured Left to Right: James Williams, YMCA Malvern Vale Community Centre Manager, Richard Oldroyd, Persimmon Housing MD South Midlands, Councillor Paul Tuthill, Chair of MHDC, Tom James, Chairman Malvern Vale Residents Group
Councillor Phil Grove, Portfolio Holder for Community & Economic Development at MHDC says: “This is a fantastic facility which has come about through excellent partnership working and it’s been a pleasure working with our partners on such an exciting project.
The centre is really versatile and will be able to serve as a hub for the whole community. Two events held already showed that residents and people from the neighbouring area are thrilled to have that sort of facility on their doorstep.”
Richard Oldroyd, managing director at Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said: “We are delighted with the outcome of the new centre and feel it will provide a functional resource that will benefit both our customers at our Malvern Vale developments, as well as the local community.”
Building contractors, Speller Metcalfe, who were instructed by Persimmon Homes to construct the new facilities, added: “While it is important to meet the undersupply of housing across the region, it is just as important to ensure that residents can become part of a local community with facilities that meet their needs.
“The team on site has worked hard to provide sports facilities built to Sport England national standard alongside a multi-functional community centre and we have also donated items such as much needed furniture to get the centre up and running.”
Alan Moorhouse, Head of Housing (Communities) at Festival Housing said: "With a very strong sense of community already developing, we are confident that the new centre will provide a great space for everybody to get together. With our Malvern Vale Community Development worker Chris Reed, we look forward to working with residents, YMCA, Malvern Hills District Council and others to continue to make Malvern Vale a fantastic place to live."
Tom James, Chair of Malvern Vale Residents’ Group, added: ‘I think the community centre will be a key feature for the whole of Malvern Vale and I am looking forward to many activities being held there for the whole community in the near future.’
If you are interested in booking the facility, please contact the Centre Manager James Williams on 01684 592363.
If you are interested in booking the facility, please contact the Centre Manager James Williams on 01684 592363.
Malvern Vale Community Centre residents and councillors
Malvern Vale Community Centre Advisory Group
Malvern Vale Community Centre partner Festival Housing
Main partners of Malvern Vale Community Centre
YMCA team at Malvern Vale Community Centre
