The eagerly awaited refurbishment of the Priory Neighbourhood Centre at Ore
Valley, Hastings, is nearing completion and one of the most challenging final
touches has been the installation of its "sedum" roof.
Expert builders have finished laying the new roof, which is made of sedum
plants and timber from a sustainable source in accordance with the environmentally-friendly
design principles behind the transformation of the entire building.
The 67ha Ore Valley site is part of Hastings Millennium Community, a joint
project between English
Partnerships, Hastings Borough Council and locally established regeneration
company Sea Space. It is one of just seven Millennium Communities managed by
English Partnerships, the national regeneration agency, across the country.
English Partnerships has contributed over £1m to the redevelopment of the "Bridge"
(the new name for the centre) as part of its commitment to the provision of
community facilities on the site.
Funding has also been received from the European Regional Development Fund
and Sure Start Ore Valley. Hastings Trust is currently holding the building
on behalf of the community and will hand it back in 2006. The community steering
group decided it was time for a name-change for their new-look building. Accessibility
is such a prominent feature of the community centre’s design that it has appropriately
been renamed the "Bridge".
Inspired by the installation of a bridge entrance scheduled for later this
month, the name demonstrates that the new centre will be open to all residents
of Ore Valley, regardless of age or ability. The new centre will house an internet
café, crèche, offices and a multi-purpose space and is likely to be open to
the public by January 2006. The roof of the Bridge will also include special
solar panels to help heat the building and produce electricity that will contribute
to its energy efficiency.
Duncan Innes, English Partnerships’ Regional Director, Southern England, said,
"It’s great to reach these final stages and see the building really beginning
to take shape. The Bridge will provide much-needed services for local people
and this innovative, high-quality facility will help to put the Ore Valley firmly
on the map. "The reconstruction of the centre, which demonstrates our approach
to sustainable development, is a credit to the hard work and determination of
the local community who will be able to meet, work and relax in a stunning building
that minimises the impact on the environment."
Pauline Hyland, member of the Executive Committee that raised the money for
the new centre, said, "We're calling it the Bridge because that's how you get
in, you can go from the road straight over a bridge into the building. But my
favourite part is the roof, it changes colour with the seasons."
James Leathers who works for Hastings Trust added, "This is what I think regeneration
is all about – small steps that have big impacts long into the future. It's
not glamorous, but thanks to English Partnerships’ funding, in this case the
building is spectacular. For once being green looks like the smartest design
in town."
Posted July 19th 2005
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