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HALL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Notes for Church Meeting 24th March 2019
It was at the September meeting that we gave an update on the Hall Development Project and so is about time we gave an update.
You will recall we submitted and received responses to our Pre Planning Applications for both Grove Road (Enfield) and Christ Church (Barnet)
Following the positive response that Enfield gave, a scheme has been prepared for submission of a Planning Application for the Grove Road site for a 5 storey building with 19 flats (a mix of 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms) with disabled parking spaces only, as the site is well connected by public transport. Because of the loss of community space Enfield required a confirmation from Barnet that the main scheme for Christ Church was likely to proceed. As there are issues on the Church site scheme that need to be resolved we have not so far made a formal submission to Enfield for Grove Road
The initial response from Barnet – was non-committal – they raised various concerns about the design and required more design details and information from our architects CPL who are continuing to develop the scheme and prepared further elevations and CGI presentations.
As was mentioned in September we were concerned that the layout which did not give as much usable space as we would like – spaces that could be used for a variety of activities and provide income for us.
The more recent designs from CPL have addressed this to an extent but there are still aspects of the design and appearance of the building that we feel need addressing.
Meetings of the Development Group took place in November and February and extensive discussions took place on all aspects of the scheme
We will be meeting Barnet Planners along with our Architects in April to resolve outstanding issues and there will be a further meeting with the Architects and the Development Group in May.
The strategy for the project remains as mentioned in September::-
There will however be a time during the work when there are no hall facilities at Christ Church (for about a year) and of course by then there will be no Grove Road Hall – so alternative facilities will be needed for church groups that currently use these facilities and for any storage requirements
Francis W Mudford
Notes for Church Meeting 24th March 2019
It was at the September meeting that we gave an update on the Hall Development Project and so is about time we gave an update.
You will recall we submitted and received responses to our Pre Planning Applications for both Grove Road (Enfield) and Christ Church (Barnet)
Following the positive response that Enfield gave, a scheme has been prepared for submission of a Planning Application for the Grove Road site for a 5 storey building with 19 flats (a mix of 1, 2 & 3 bedrooms) with disabled parking spaces only, as the site is well connected by public transport. Because of the loss of community space Enfield required a confirmation from Barnet that the main scheme for Christ Church was likely to proceed. As there are issues on the Church site scheme that need to be resolved we have not so far made a formal submission to Enfield for Grove Road
The initial response from Barnet – was non-committal – they raised various concerns about the design and required more design details and information from our architects CPL who are continuing to develop the scheme and prepared further elevations and CGI presentations.
As was mentioned in September we were concerned that the layout which did not give as much usable space as we would like – spaces that could be used for a variety of activities and provide income for us.
The more recent designs from CPL have addressed this to an extent but there are still aspects of the design and appearance of the building that we feel need addressing.
Meetings of the Development Group took place in November and February and extensive discussions took place on all aspects of the scheme
- the strategy for the project
- Grove Road design & layout
- Christ Church design and layout
We will be meeting Barnet Planners along with our Architects in April to resolve outstanding issues and there will be a further meeting with the Architects and the Development Group in May.
The strategy for the project remains as mentioned in September::-
- A full Planning Application will be sent to LB Enfield for the Grove Road site
- On approval the site with approval is sold
- We then have a definitive amount of money available for the Christ Church development
- The Christ Church scheme is developed, Planning is sought and obtained
- The Christ Church development can be progressed
There will however be a time during the work when there are no hall facilities at Christ Church (for about a year) and of course by then there will be no Grove Road Hall – so alternative facilities will be needed for church groups that currently use these facilities and for any storage requirements
Francis W Mudford
PROJECT MANAGERS REPORT
31st Jan 2016
Much has gone on over the last 6 months and we are now starting off on our course with our Architect partners to develop the scheme. Following the 2nd stage consultation and the revised outline Architects brief which was completed in July we invited 4 Architects practices to be involved in our selection process, they were issued with a number of documents and surveys of the church and in August / September came along to view the premises, they were asked to consider our development and come up with ideas and initial proposals and make a presentation to us.. The 4 practices were CPL, Purcell, Theis & Khan & Molyneux
At the end of November / early December we had the presentations – this would enable us to select an Architects practice who we felt would be the best choice to become our partner in the scheme. (copies of the presentation documents were available at the back of the church –end of last year). The panel consisted of the minister, David Skipp (URC) Church secretary & Treasurer and other members of the finance & fabric committee.
In the end the selection process which can often be fraught with difficulties with members championing a different practice, was in fact very easy. We were unanimous in the decision to invite CPL to work with us . We liked their approach to the scheme and their desire to work closely with us – they are also a practice with committed Christian values (CPL stands for Church Projects Limited), references were taken up and these were excellent.
On Wednesday 27th Jan we met with them to formally invite them to work with us on the development, there will be the inevitable paperwork to complete – signed by the church – trustees ie deacons. They will initially be undertaking a feasibility and option study which will be presented to us in the summer – this will give us a much clearer picture on what we can achieve for our resources.
Our liability for their fees will be limited initially to this stage Derek Kemp – senior partner of CPL will come and talk about the scheme in one of our services (20 March) and there will be a number of open sessions at other times where those interested can come and chat to the design team
The architects will be starting from square one – examining the brief and looking at lots of different ideas – even if many will eventually be discounted. Eventually we will end up with a confirmed brief and a feasible design – from where we can start on the main design of the project.
31st Jan 2016
Much has gone on over the last 6 months and we are now starting off on our course with our Architect partners to develop the scheme. Following the 2nd stage consultation and the revised outline Architects brief which was completed in July we invited 4 Architects practices to be involved in our selection process, they were issued with a number of documents and surveys of the church and in August / September came along to view the premises, they were asked to consider our development and come up with ideas and initial proposals and make a presentation to us.. The 4 practices were CPL, Purcell, Theis & Khan & Molyneux
At the end of November / early December we had the presentations – this would enable us to select an Architects practice who we felt would be the best choice to become our partner in the scheme. (copies of the presentation documents were available at the back of the church –end of last year). The panel consisted of the minister, David Skipp (URC) Church secretary & Treasurer and other members of the finance & fabric committee.
In the end the selection process which can often be fraught with difficulties with members championing a different practice, was in fact very easy. We were unanimous in the decision to invite CPL to work with us . We liked their approach to the scheme and their desire to work closely with us – they are also a practice with committed Christian values (CPL stands for Church Projects Limited), references were taken up and these were excellent.
On Wednesday 27th Jan we met with them to formally invite them to work with us on the development, there will be the inevitable paperwork to complete – signed by the church – trustees ie deacons. They will initially be undertaking a feasibility and option study which will be presented to us in the summer – this will give us a much clearer picture on what we can achieve for our resources.
Our liability for their fees will be limited initially to this stage Derek Kemp – senior partner of CPL will come and talk about the scheme in one of our services (20 March) and there will be a number of open sessions at other times where those interested can come and chat to the design team
The architects will be starting from square one – examining the brief and looking at lots of different ideas – even if many will eventually be discounted. Eventually we will end up with a confirmed brief and a feasible design – from where we can start on the main design of the project.
JOINT COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY 26TH AUGUST
This meeting was called as part of our development plans. Our church is a ‘Local Ecumenical Partnership’ or LEP between Christ Church URC and New Southgate Baptist Churches to form Christ Church. This means that we need to consult both denominations as part of the legal underpinning of our plans. The meeting was attended by the Moderator of the North Thames URC synod and the Regional Baptist Minister representing the 2 denominations; along with members of church, Caroline Rogers (our Minister), Frances Mudford (who will be managing the project for us) and the Buildings Advisor for the URC synod.
The meeting agreed and minuted that we should investigate further and approach architects to produce plans. The group will need to reconvene in about a year to discuss the capital arrangements to allow funds from the sale of a Baptist building to be used to refurbish and improve a URC building.
This meeting was called as part of our development plans. Our church is a ‘Local Ecumenical Partnership’ or LEP between Christ Church URC and New Southgate Baptist Churches to form Christ Church. This means that we need to consult both denominations as part of the legal underpinning of our plans. The meeting was attended by the Moderator of the North Thames URC synod and the Regional Baptist Minister representing the 2 denominations; along with members of church, Caroline Rogers (our Minister), Frances Mudford (who will be managing the project for us) and the Buildings Advisor for the URC synod.
The meeting agreed and minuted that we should investigate further and approach architects to produce plans. The group will need to reconvene in about a year to discuss the capital arrangements to allow funds from the sale of a Baptist building to be used to refurbish and improve a URC building.