MILLION POUND GOVERNMENT GRANT FOR GRANGE COURT REVAMP
A £1 million Government grant to transform Leominster’s historic Grange Court has been finalised today, paving the way for work to begin to turn the historic former market house into a new facility for local community groups and charities.
The grant from the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office’s Community Assets scheme has been awarded to Herefordshire Council for a large scale refurbishment and extension to the Grade II listed building. The award will ensure the carved black and white timber building, built in 1633 by the King's carpenter John Abel, continues to be used by and for the community.
The Government’s Community Assets programme, is funded by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and delivered by the Big Fund (BIG).
Part of the Grange Court: building in the past for the future project will see Herefordshire Council transfer the freehold of the building to Leominster Area Regeneration Company Limited (LARC), placing its ownership and management in the hands of the local community.
Cllr Blackshaw, Cabinet member for Economic Development and Community Services commented: “This project will have significant community and economic benefit not just for Leominster but for the rest of the county at a time of economic recovery. It demonstrates the value of community asset projects with the Council passing the ownership of an iconic building to local people, to maximise its future potential. This project will preserve the heritage of Grange Court in addition to catering for the needs of local people, voluntary groups and local businesses.”
He continued: “Key to this project is the partnership approach between national funders, Herefordshire Council and Leominster Area Regeneration Company, who will deliver the future project. Without all the partners working together it would have been impossible for the ambitions of local people to become a reality.”
The current extension of Grange Court will be demolished and replaced by a larger extension, providing appropriate and accessible community facilities in the town centre. Several local groups will benefit from the creation of new office space and small meeting rooms will be available on an ad-hoc basis to other community organisations.
Angela Smith MP, Minister for the Third Sector, said: “The Government is investing up to £30 million across the country into community projects such as redeveloping Grange Court in Leominster. The regeneration of the property will create a great new facility for the people of Leominster and is core to the area’s redevelopment.
"Our aim with Community Assets is to help to transfer assets from local councils to community and voluntary organisations for the benefit of the wider community. Grange Court is a great example of how this can be done.”
John Taylor, BIG’s Head of Region for the West Midlands, said: “The Grange Court project will make a real difference to the lives of people living in and around Leominster. Giving the community control of local assets is vital to ensure that the most isolated and disadvantaged get the support they need, right at the heart of the town.”
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