East Suffolk Council
Works start to create new community hall in Aldringham Cum Thorpe
Works have started this month to create a new community hall in Aldringham Cum Thorpe.
The new community hall is being built on the Ogilvie Pavilion and Sports Ground, with a maximum of £735,000 in funding awarded by East Suffolk Council through Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and £310,000 provided by Sizewell C Community Fund.
CIL is a planning charge that was introduced by the Planning Act 2008 as a tool for local authorities in England and Wales to deliver infrastructure to support development in an area. Improvements to local infrastructure include play areas, village halls, schools, transport schemes and GP surgeries.
The project which is being led by the Ogilvie Pavilion and Sports Ground trustees, first originated in 2012 when Ogilvie Hall was sold. The money from this sale along with £25,000 in Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) awarded to Aldringham Cum Thorpe Parish Council will be used in building the community hall which will include a bar, foyer and coffee area, kitchen, office, meeting room along with an outdoor BBQ and play area.
Cllr Mark Packard, East Suffolk Council's cabinet member for Planning and Coastal Management, said: “The village has been campaigning for a number of years to establish a larger and more adaptable community space to work alongside the existing Pavilion and sports ground, so we’re pleased to see works starting to create modern, accessible facilities for the benefit of people living in Aldringham cum Thorpe and the surrounding villages.
“Community halls are a vital part of our villages, offering a public meeting place and a local hub where people can foster connections, so it’s positive to see that CIL contributions through recent housing developments are supporting the development of the community hall which will support the long-term wellbeing of residents.”
Eric Atkinson, Chairman of the Ogilvie Pavilion and Sports Ground said: “We’re delighted after all this time to be getting started on the build for our new community hall.
“At the moment, we receive lots of enquiries from people looking for somewhere to host a whole spectrum of activities and events, which unfortunately we don’t currently have facilities for. The new community hall located within seven acres of tranquil space offers a flexible environment designed to cater for everyone’s wellbeing, from providing a warm, welcoming space for social gatherings to serving as a formal events and activities venue.
“We’d like to thank everyone who has supported and contributed to the project to enable us to get to where we are today and we look forward to opening it up to the community.”
Works are expected to be completed in autumn 2026.