Planning permission approved for Boughton Community Hub

Located on Manvers View, a council house will be transformed into a Community Hub for residents and tenants, providing a base for them to work with the Council and in partnership with the Police and health and community-based services to tackle local issues. It will also be used as a space for local groups and clubs to meet and provide both vocational and academic courses for residents, using a series of iPad and desktop facilities linked to the local Further Education College.

The District Council’s Tenant Engagement Board endorsed this project, and the Council are committed to residents' and tenants' ideas to be at the heart of the project to ensure the Hub is a community space that works for them and addresses their needs and wants. Therefore, the District Council's Housing team listened and consulted with residents on Manvers View, Stepnall Heights, Turner Lane, Swinton Copse and Bentick Close to understand what they would like to see from the Hub.

Ideas included arts and craft sessions, mum and babies clubs, sports days, waste management events such as litter picking, community safety events, mental health support, employment advice, healthy eating courses and social mornings and evenings.

Retford Road Estate and Hallam Road Estates in Boughton are areas identified that could benefit from a Community Hub to help residents feel safer, receive additional support and tackle local issues.

Work on the Hub is being partly funded through the District Council's allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Hub will open to the community in the spring. More information will be available in the coming months.

Councillor Lee Brazier, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: "I am really pleased planning permission has been granted to start work on this exciting project. We have a Community Hub in Chatham Court in Newark which has been a real asset to the local community, and I'm excited we can bring this to Boughton.

"Tenants' and residents views will be at the heart of this project, and we are committed to making sure the Hub is a community space that reflects the wants of local people and is something they will use. It'll be a space for social gatherings but also a place where residents can gain new skills, tackle local issues together and receive support.

"Of the 139 properties our team spoke with, 110 said the Hub will benefit them and the local community. Additionally, several residents expressed their desire to be volunteers here, so it's great to see the community excited about this project. I look forward to seeing the Community Hub when works are complete."

People who have expressed an interest in being a volunteer at the hub or to be involved in its projects will be contacted in the next few weeks. Anyone else who wants to get involved can contact the Hub Team on BCH@Newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk or catch a member of the housing team when they are on the estates.