the project plan
current position
The site was acquired by its current owners in May 2015 as an investment but with the additional aim of restoring the site and bringing it back into use as a community hub, with a small element of residential content.
The whole of the site is owned outright by MOTHI – a private limited company (limited by shares) owned jointly by Bill Howard and Bob Jones. Between the vacation of the site by the NHS and its subsequent sale a sample consultation was carried out locally by the Minehead Development Trust, which has established that there is a need and a desire within the community for this project.
MOTHI is now working to build on this study and widen the consultation parameters to fill in the detail required to bring the vision to fruition. This will involve consideration of the types of services to be accommodated and developed in more detail to ensure long term viability which itself considers the need to work in an ever changing economy and political climate. The conclusion so far is that there needs to be an adjustable “blend” of relatively traditional, eminently important “social Services” harmonising with what in some senses resembles a very grand, prestigious, well run village hall, geared towards promoting and accommodating all manner of private/community/social/business functions
MOTHI is in the process of establishing a Community Interest Company (a CIC) with a steering group drawn from the local community, to ensure that there is genuine community sign-up to this project. The CIC will be the vehicle by which the project will be implemented and will manage the facility on into the future
Detailed schemes for planning and listed buildings consent have been prepared and submitted, with Heritage England having been consulted in the process. The scheme enjoys the support of the community, local councils, Heritage England etc. and we are hopeful of receiving positive notification in September.
The scheme has been included in, and forms an important part of the local economic development plan which can be downloaded from here:
https://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/getattachment/Business/Economic-Strategies/Minehead-CCT-Economic-Plan-Jan-2016.pdf.aspx
The whole of the site is owned outright by MOTHI – a private limited company (limited by shares) owned jointly by Bill Howard and Bob Jones. Between the vacation of the site by the NHS and its subsequent sale a sample consultation was carried out locally by the Minehead Development Trust, which has established that there is a need and a desire within the community for this project.
MOTHI is now working to build on this study and widen the consultation parameters to fill in the detail required to bring the vision to fruition. This will involve consideration of the types of services to be accommodated and developed in more detail to ensure long term viability which itself considers the need to work in an ever changing economy and political climate. The conclusion so far is that there needs to be an adjustable “blend” of relatively traditional, eminently important “social Services” harmonising with what in some senses resembles a very grand, prestigious, well run village hall, geared towards promoting and accommodating all manner of private/community/social/business functions
MOTHI is in the process of establishing a Community Interest Company (a CIC) with a steering group drawn from the local community, to ensure that there is genuine community sign-up to this project. The CIC will be the vehicle by which the project will be implemented and will manage the facility on into the future
Detailed schemes for planning and listed buildings consent have been prepared and submitted, with Heritage England having been consulted in the process. The scheme enjoys the support of the community, local councils, Heritage England etc. and we are hopeful of receiving positive notification in September.
The scheme has been included in, and forms an important part of the local economic development plan which can be downloaded from here:
https://www.westsomersetonline.gov.uk/getattachment/Business/Economic-Strategies/Minehead-CCT-Economic-Plan-Jan-2016.pdf.aspx
SHORT TERM objectives
- Conclude formation of the CIC and get registered
- Set in place legal safeguards mechanisms.
- Establish Steering group from local organisations and individuals.
- Establish strategy for funding
- Conclude community, commerce and councils etc consultation
- Business Plan - Flesh out and refine the basics of the financial viability models used thus far into a robust, long term business plan, one which can be worked to and relied upon in the years to come
- Submit application for S106 funds to “kick start” project
- Rehabilitate rear areas of site and bring back into community use
business plan
The business plan is a “work in progress” document, constantly evolving. Key poins are:
- Early assessments on financial aspects confirm project viability, but ensuring the right levels of income are made to happen in excess of outgoings all the time is key.
- There are a number of comparable and successful examples already running in various towns and cities around the UK
- The assessments made thus far point towards a six phase project (see below) with funding being derived from a blend of (limited) government funding, national/heritage grants etc and a high proportion of “self generated” income being ploughed back into the project.
- In this respect it is really important that the project gains the maximum possible community support – but not simplistically by way of gifts or donations (although any of which would be extremely welcome and put to good use!!) but much more importantly by actively participating in and making good use of the facilities as they become available