Chichester District Council agrees to release £250,000 to Age Concern for refurbishment

The plan to use £256,415.52 of S106 funds – money contributed by developers who have been allowed to build in the area – was given the nod during a meeting of the full council on Tuesday (May 19).

The prefabricated former school building is owned by West Sussex County Council and was built between the World Wars. The county has offered a Community Asset Transfer, which will see the building leased to Age Concern for 25 years.

Such a transfer justifies major improvements, and three options have been considered – demolition and rebuilding, demolition and replacement with temporary structures, or substantial refurbishment of the building.

Age Concern chose the latter and has been working to develop a scheme which will include replacing the roof, repairing and dry-lining the walls, updating the doors and windows, expanding the kitchen, reconfiguring the toilets, adding wheelchair access, and upgrades to the electrics, heating, and fire alarm.

Deputy leader Jonathan Brown said: “Although it’s been many years since I had any involvement with Age Concern Southbourne, I would just like to say how pleased I am that the charity is still growing strong, still providing such a valuable service to local residents, and is still progressing plans to safeguard and enhance its future.”

Oona Hickson, cabinet member for housing and revenue & benefits, said the building was in ‘a dire state of repair’.

Commending the trustees for keeping things going in a building that was ‘not fit for purpose’, she added: “Anybody who’s actually visited it as a polling station will know it’s leaky, drafty, cold. It’s long overdue that it has money spent on it.”

Age Concern produces a hot lunch on Wednesdays for elderly people in the area, so kitchen improvements are vital.

Improving the ageing building will also allow the charity to bring in income by using it for other purposes throughout the week.