A new hall for Exwick
The Proposed Redevelopment Project
Why are we doing this?
For over 100 years the hall has served the local (and wider) community, providing an inclusive, non-denominational venue for meetings, recreation, education, and leisure to improve local quality of life.
Exwick is a residential area of the city, and has grown hugely in the past 30 years; the hall has attempted to grow with it. The hall has been altered and extended numerous times, but it is now limited in size and layout, and is deteriorating. The various changes have left the premises unfit for 21st Century requirements.
The Trustees of the charity decided three years ago that rather than undertake further extension work to meet increased demand, a better long-term solution would be to re-develop the site, including the provision of a new larger building with greater opportunity for community use and to more effectively meet the charitable purposes for another 100+ years.
The proposed redevelopment is to build a new community building on the site of the existing carpark, immediately adjacent to the existing Jubilee Garden (part of the site), and then once complete to demolish the existing building and form a new car and bike park.
The present main users of the Hall and gardens are very keen on the proposal; one has already made a substantial financial contribution towards the cost of the project. It is anticipated that other (new) users, both individuals and groups, would use the new premises. There would be nothing like it in the area.
What are the objectives of the proposed redevelopment?
To meet the objectives of the charity it is proposed to build a new community hub with a larger hall with kitchen, café, and meeting rooms. This will allow for greater use of the building and grounds (the Jubilee Gardens). The hall will be 180m2, and there will be five office/meeting rooms at first storey level.
As part of the site redevelopment there will a new properly surfaced car/bike park area, and this will be safer to use than the existing one.
The new community hub will thus meet the charitable objectives in terms of the “provision of a village hall…” and “…improving the conditions of life…”
A peripheral benefit, though not one without benefit, is an improvement of the site as a whole. The present building has no architectural merit, and (when viewed from the east) largely blocks the view of a most attractive Grade II* listed Anglican church. The proposed re-location of the hall will improve both aspects, and was very much favoured by the local authority (Planning and Conservation Officers).
Who will benefit?
A requirement of the charitable purpose of Exwick Parish Hall is a focus on the inhabitants of Exwick.
According to the latest figures from Exeter City Council, there are 7,325 electors in the ward of Exwick. At the last Census the population was assessed as being 9,767, and it has grown since then, probably being just over 10,000. For context, the total population of Exeter is estimated to be around 140,000.
Exwick is divided from the neighbouring ward to the east by the railway and the River Exe. There is a level crossing for the railway, immediately adjacent to St David’s Station, and a road bridge for the river.
The demographic of Exwick is variable, due to the type of housing. The ward can be divided into two main areas, the older well-established southern/eastern area, and the much newer residential developments to the west, generally on higher ground.
There is little industry left within Exwick; it is essentially a commuter belt for the rest of the city. As a result, there are many homes, but little in the way of facilities. The proposed redevelopment will go a long way towards meeting the needs of the local area.
That all sounds great – when is it going to be built?
An optimistic, but hopefully achievable, time-line will be to finalise the designs and gain all necessary consents over the next 12 months, and to raise the majority of the funds needed over 18 months.
Thus, it is anticipated to “trigger” the planning consent in June 2027 by commencing some works on site, and then to commence the main works at the beginning of 2028.
Detailed plans, suitable for planning purposes, have been prepared by a local firm of Architects and planning permission gained. A site investigation (boreholes, percolation tests etc) has been completed, which determined the nature of subsoils and thus the type of foundation design that will be necessary. Chartered Quantity Surveyors are involved in terms of costs.
And what’s it going to cost?
We don’t know at present, but the Trustees engaged a reputable firm of Chartered Quantity Surveyors, Hosken Parks, to undertake a Budget Estimate, and this was recently revised and costs projected to the second quarter of next year (2027).
They have estimated a total cost of just under £3m. This is clearly a daunting sum, but equally there are already some monies that have been built up by the charity over the last few years, and with both local and national support it is anticipated that this target is achievable.
Summary
The Trustees propose constructing a new, larger community building on the current car park, incorporating:
- A 180m² hall suitable for a wider range of activities
- Five meeting/office rooms
- A café run as a Social Enterprise, filling a major gap in local amenities
- Improved accessibility, energy efficiency, and parking
- Direct connection to the Jubilee Gardens
How can I help?
We thought you’d never ask!
Lots of ways, depending on your time and availability, and what experience or skills you may have to offer.
If you can’t do anything else, then “Buy a Brick”! We are seeking at least 1,000 local people willing to pledge to buy a brick that will then be used in the construction. We suggest a minimum of £10 per brick, though of course you can pledge more, or even buy more!
Or just make a donation, by following this link.
For a project of this size, we really need more people on the general management committee to assist the Trustees in their work. We are especially keen to hear from anyone with time to give who has experience and skill in:
Social media – for example Instagram and X
Finance – particularly in terms of financial planning
Running a café – either as part of a management team, or as a volunteer
In the first instance please email me, Colin Wooding, at ephfundraiser@outlook.com