Work underway to extend village hall in Charnwood

“The hall is a busy and bustling place, and the extra room will bring real benefits to the community and the groups and people who use it."

A village hall at the heart of the community is undergoing renovations after receiving money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Anstey Parish Council is extending the Jubilee Hall to provide a second larger community hall for the local scout group and provide more facilities for groups in the area.

The total cost of the project is over £860,000 and is being funded by parish council reserves, contributions from developments in the area under Section 106 agreements and the £524,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Cllr Jennifer Tillotson, Charnwood Borough Council’s lead member for economic development, regeneration and town centres, said: “I was delighted to visit the hall to see the project is progressing well.

“The hall is a busy and bustling place, and the extra room will bring real benefits to the community and the groups and people who use it.

“I look forward to seeing the extended hall when it is completed.”

The extended hall means the 40th Leicester Scouts can move from their current ageing premises in Leicester Road.

The project also includes a new meeting room facility available to hire as well as additional storage. New toilet facilities with outside access for sports users and spectators on the recreation ground are being provided and garage space for the Council’s grounds maintenance service is being created.

Glyn McAllister, Anstey Parish Council Chair, said: “We have been planning to extend the hall for a long time and thanks to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund we are now able to do the work.

“The hall is extremely popular and there is a demand for community space in the village.

“We are very pleased that as a parish council we can deliver this for the village.”

Work started in September and the hall is remaining open until December 18. The building will then close until the summer of 2024 when building work is expected to be completed.