Work on New Sands End Arts and Community Centre to Start in New Year
Council approves plans for centre in South Park due to open in 2019
Work is set to begin in spring creating the new Sands End Arts and Community Centre in Fulham's South Park.
The centre, which was approved by H&F Council's planning committee this week, will be run by local people, with facilities and services chosen by members of the community.
The council is building the new Sands End Arts and Community Centre in and around the currently disused Clancarty Lodge in South Park. It says the lodge will be refurbished and extended to provide a range of bright, welcoming spaces for residents to use.
It adds that the centre is being built at no cost to residents. Thames Tideway is providing £2m as part of its community investment and Chelsea FC is providing up to £1.6m as part of its community contribution around its stadium redevelopment.
Local resident Tim Prager, who sits on the Residents Delivery Group for the centre, said: “This will be a meeting place, a hub of activity across languages, cultures and economic background, a venue for creative expression, a flexible space which encourages the community to be flexible in its use.
“Perhaps most importantly, it will be what the broader Sands End community want it to be. Today and for decades to come.”
Cllr Andrew Jones, H&F Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, said: “This beautiful new centre will enhance people’s wellbeing across Sands End and South Fulham.
“It will be set up to ensure that it is truly for people of all backgrounds, and that residents are in the driving seat.”
A community trust comprised of local people will be established to run and operate the Sands End Arts and Community Centre.
Work on the centre will begin in the new year, with construction scheduled to start in the spring and the new building scheduled to open in 2019.
The design for the centre was consulted on widely. Residents responded in writing and gave their views at public consultation events.
These events gave local people a first glimpse of plans for the centre.The designs, from a team led by Mae Architects, show the restored original Clancarty Lodge in the north west corner of the Parsons Green park extended to provide a large community hall, plus flexible hall and cafe opening onto an arts courtyard, and connecting to the terrace of the original lodge via an open lobby area.
The centre could also have a number of public outdoor spaces, including the terrace, courtyard, community and nursery gardens and a walnut grove.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council says it has worked closely with residents and local stakeholders to draw up designs for the new centre.
The designs were first shown off at two public consultation events held last week, but are now available online and residents are urged to view them and provide feedback.
The original community centre in library in Broughton Road was sold five years ago by H&F Council's previous administration, despite strong protests from local residents.
September 7, 2017
