After a number of years of planning and a global pandemic, the Paddock Wood Community Centre will finally open its doors in early 2023.
The building has been built by local firm Baxall’s to be eco-friendly, with a mechanical ventilation heating and air-cooling system, solar panels and electric vehicle charging points. The car park is of sufficient size to serve not only the community centre and nursery but also the adjacent memorial field. Residents will also be able to access the centre by bus, cycle or on foot.
This facility will bring much needed community space for use by residents. There will be a hall that can accommodate 300 people but also be split into 3 smaller halls for smaller groups, a kitchen with a café area, a reception/office, a meeting room and a nursery. Also included in the project will be two new LTA compliant tennis courts, a new cricket wicket and improvements to the pavilion.
Once the electricity supply is connected by UKPN, the builder Baxall’s will be able to hand over the building to the town and this should happen at the end of January or beginning of February.
It is proposed to hold an open day on a Saturday in February, date yet to be finalised, so that residents can come and see our fantastic new facility. An Estate Agent will market the Nursery and once the building has been handed over the fit-out of the building will be organised. This may take several months depending on delivery times for the equipment being ordered.
This picture shows our brand new hall from one end. It is an incredibly flexible space and the dividers show how the hall can be separated into two or three smaller halls.
Initially bookings will be made via the Town Council and a section of the Council website will be devoted to the Community Centre and its facilities.
Please watch out for the open day notification in February and come to see for yourself. An official opening will follow later in the year.
