The Council is Getting Things Done in Coldharbour with £1.5million for a proposed state-of-the-art community hub to make sure residents have access to the services and spaces that they deserve.
Subject to consultation and extensive conversations with the community and key partners, we’ll explore ways to redevelop the existing Adventure Play Centre as a modern, multi-use community hub complete with a revamped playground.
The existing building is tired and underused but has the potential to be the home of a versatile new space for the community to connect. In these proposals, the playground won’t be going anywhere – it would be getting new equipment as part of the revamp.
Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “Coldharbour is a tight-knit community, and has incredible voluntary and community organisations that provide invaluable support. We want to make sure they have the facilities to do this in style.
“We’re proposing a new hub in the heart of Coldharbour. This will be the perfect space for the community to thrive, and serves as a flexible venue for both residents and the local community sector. We’ll work with community groups and voluntary organisations on what proposed building will look like and could offer. This proposed approach could make the best use of the space, while improving the playground and giving families and the whole community a real focal point.”
Councillor Majid Rahman, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, added: “We’ve secured £60million from developers, and we’re proposing to put it to good use in transforming youth play across the borough including Coldharbour. Any decisions arising from consultation will be the subject of further engagement with key stakeholders to ensure that we create an invaluable resource for the community.
If, following the wider Adventure Play Centre Consultation, the Council proceeds with proposals for the Coldharbour site, MP Clive Efford will chair local stakeholder engagement events, which are intended to give the community a voice in how this particular site develops.
Clive Efford, MP for Eltham and Chislehurst, said: “There’s been a lot of speculation about the future of this site in Coldharbour, but I'm delighted that the council wants to consult local people about what they think their community needs. I’m looking forward to working closely with the council and bringing local voices to this conversation. Coldharbour deserves modern facilities to be proud of".
The proposed community hub would trial an innovative neighbourhood focused approach that, if successful, the council aims to roll out across the borough. It will be subject to the ongoing Adventure Play Centre consultation (which can be accessed here) and following that, if taken forward, would be subject to the usual planning processes. The council will consult with local stakeholders before bringing more detailed plans forward.
This investment comes from ringfenced grants and the Council's negotiations with developers to secure £60million that it can use to focus on the things that it knows really matter to residents – because they matter to the council too. The money is part of the council's Getting Things Done drive which can’t be used to offset any future deficits.
Announcements will be made weekly: Visit royalgreenwich.gov.uk/Getting-Things-Done or follow the Council on WhatsApp to be the first to know.