Central Hall scales back expansion plans

A well-used community hall in Wymondham has scaled down its refurbishment plans after its modernisation budget was reduced.

A scheme to revamp the 1960s Central Hall was unveiled earlier this year in a bid to complement the neighbouring Wymondham Library.

But the Wymondham Central Hall Trust has now submitted altered plans for the community building in Back Lane to reflect a 'significantly reduced' budget for the project.

The revised proposals, which have been sent to South Norfolk Council, will include a reduction in the footprint of the extension to the venue, which hosts plays, gigs, discos, sales, antique fairs, blood donor sessions, and other club activities.

The scheme will still involve a larger entrance hall, improved toilet facilities, a combined bar and kitchen area, improved seating, stage and acoustics in the main hall, increased insulation and new heating and ventilation systems to help cut down electricity bills.

Agent Terry Hickman Smith said Central Hall was in almost continuous use and was an important part of the Wymondham scene. He added that the external appearance of the building would be altered to match the state-of-the-art library that opened next door last year.

'The scale and character of the existing building is very much of its time, looks dated, and there are no architectural resonances between Central Hall and the Library.'

'This scheme attempts to remodel the exterior in such a way as to complement the new library whilst maintaining the essential requirements in the hall, all within the new extremely limited budget,' he said.

The revised plans would result in 12 fewer spaces at the Central Hall car park. The original scheme was estimated to cost about �900,000 and the hall trust had hoped to start the nine-month project last month.