Huge funding shortfall as plans for new community centre in Fareham are revealed
Plans to shape the design of a new community centre in Fareham have been revealed for the first time – but there’s a funding shortfall of £2.4 million.
The council’s design concept for the new community centre at Fareham Park was presented to members at a Fareham Borough Council leisure and safer communities advisory panel on January 21. Council officer Emma Bowler said the council is working on applying for grant funding in September, with final designs and costing needed to win any money.
The site is 2.6 hectares of open space and car parking at Hillson Drive and will replace the existing Fareham North West Community Centre. Outline planning approval was granted last year for the new community centre, and after it is completed in 2028, the existing building will be demolished.
Architects Stride Treglown are managing the project and have produced designs for a single-storey building of traditional design.
The panel were asked to comment on the statement double-height entrance, the shutters to be used on the windows for security and the external walls using patterned bricks like Fareham Live. Councillors said the design was “amazing” and “magnificent”.
There was discussion around the shutters for the windows and if there was a surface treatment to prevent them being spray painted or that radically if graffiti should be considered as part of the design. The updated and refined external and internal designs of the building will be presented to the executive in February, Ms Bowler said.