Building Works Begins Soon on Sands End Arts and Community Centre
Take part in survey on new South Park centre's facilities by end of October
Building work will soon start on the new Sands End Arts and Community Centre.
The brand new centre will be built in and around the currently disused Clancarty Lodge in South Park, Fulham.
Construction of the new building is expected to start in June and the new centre is scheduled to open next year, providing a new community resource to replace the former centre in Broughton Road.
All this is being done at no cost to residents after H&F Council secured funding from Thames Tideway and Chelsea FC.
The council is building the new Sands End Arts and Community Centre in and around the currently disused Clancarty Lodge in South Park. “This beautiful new centre will enhance people’s wellbeing across Sands End and south Fulham,” said Cllr Andrew Jones, H&F Cabinet Member for the Economy and the Arts.
“It will be set up to ensure that it is truly for people of all backgrounds, and that residents are in the driving seat at the new community space in H&F.”
The council has chosen Neilcott Construction Group to do the construction work. If you live near South Park, you will receive an introductory letter from the contractor.
The new centre will be run by local people for local people, with facilities chosen according to what local people want.
A community trust comprised of local people will be established to run and operate the Sands End Arts and Community Centre.
The design for the centre was also consulted on widely and has already won a prize despite not even being built yet.
Its design was selected as one of the best in London at the New London Architecture Awards last year.
If you have any questions about the work, please email the council’s project team SandsEndACC@lbhf.gov.uk.
Fulham residents have until the end of this month to help shape the future of the new Sands End Arts and Community Centre, which is being constructed on the site of Clancarty Lodge in the north west corner of South Park.
A Council consultation, open till 31 October, asks local people to give their views on the facilities and events they would like to see at the centre, which is due to open in late 2019.
The short online survey asks people to pick their priorities for activities at the new centre from an A-Z list, from Access to computers, Activities for over 60s, Advice point and Arts and Crafts classes to Yoga and Youth projects.
Resident are also invited to add their own suggestions and comments.
Designed by a team led by Mae Architects, the new centre will restore the original Clancarty Lodge and extend it 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 will 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 original community centre, in the library in Broughton Road was sold six years ago by H&F Council's previous administration, despite protests from local residents.
In August 2016 the council announced that it intended creating the new centre in the lodge with a contribution of £2 million from Tideway, which is constructing a drive site for the Tideway Tunnel on nearby Carnwath Road.
Chelsea FC is also providing up to £1.6m via its community contribution for the redevelopment of Stamford Bridge.
The design for the new building takes inspiration from 19th century glasshouses built by the horticulturalist James Veitch, which previously occupied the site in South Park until the 1980s.
Principal at architects Mae, Alex Ely said: "The centre will provide much needed community infrastructure offering generous, flexible and welcoming space."
In July, the centre won a prestigious 'unbuilt' award at the New London Architecture Awards. You can see more about details in a special publication – available to download here for free.
A community trust comprised of local people will be set up to run and operate the centre.
"We’ve got big ambitions for the centre in enhancing the wellbeing of residents from all backgrounds and of all ages," said Cllr Ben Coleman, H&F Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care.
"We’ve been working with residents throughout and I’m delighted that the judges have recognised the special quality of what is being brought to South Fulham."
Find out more about the new centre here.
July 12, 2018
