Alverstoke Parish Centre Regeneration Project

The Parish Centre in Alverstoke has been at the heart of a vibrant community for over 50 years. It is a vital community resource that is well used but is now not meeting user needs, current standards for accessibility, safeguarding or road safety, and is beyond economical repair.

Plan A (2015 – 2023)

A team of local volunteers, chaired by the Rector of St Mary's Church, Alverstoke, started work in 2015 to design a replacement for this vital community hub and then to raise the funds to build it. The design was finalised in 2019 after working with users, Gosport Borough Council, and a local architect. Planning permission was granted in March 2020, and the technical specifications were developed during the year of lockdowns!

However, the world changed during the pandemic, and charitable foundations concentrated their efforts on supporting charities most affected by the financial impact of the pandemic and the economic crisis that followed. Despite our best efforts, we were unsuccessful in raising the £2.4 million needed to build a new Parish Centre for the community.

Plan B (from November 2023)

After the Project Financial review of November 2023, the team developed an alternative proposal for consideration by the PCC. Plan B aims to deliver as many of the benefits of Plan A as possible, at half the cost. We plan to achieve this by taking a step-by-step approach:

• Building the car park, as in Plan A
• Installing solar power to minimise running costs and reduce the carbon footprint
• Building a self-contained annexe to provide additional space
• Extending and refurbishing the current hall, including installation of insulation and an air source heat pump to minimise the centre’s dependency on fossil fuels, reduce heat loss, and further reduce running costs and the carbon footprint
• Improving biodiversity by at least 10% by incorporating a new tree and shrub planting landscape design and turning the current flat roof into a “green roof”

Support for the Project

The Project has the full support of our local MP, successive council leaders, Mayors, and local councillors.

We have received incredible support from residents, user groups, and local businesses. The Fund has received generous donations from individuals and user groups. Our Events team has organised many fundraising events since the start of the project which are popular in the community, well-attended, with many sold out. By September 2024, the combined total of donations and funds raised from community events reached a staggering £231,000, with an overall total raised of £510,000.

Local businesses have provided raffle prizes, food for events, cash from in-store token collections, and direct donations to cover the cost of events. All donations are very much appreciated and are listed under the Fundraising/Sponsorship tab.

Supporting Businesses

There are two local companies that provide ongoing financial support to the project, and whose banners you will see on the Parish Centre fence:

A & S Motors

A & S Motors have covered the costs of concerts and production costs for posters, garden guides, and banners for the Alverstoke Garden Walkabout.

www.aandsmotors.com
A & S Motors, Privett Road, Gosport PO12 3SY, 023 9252 8080

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White and Brooks Estate Agents

White and Brooks Estate Agents recently opened a new branch in Gosport. Their company ethos has always been to give something back within the communities that support their business.

Adam Gregg, Sales Director for White and Brooks, said:

"After years of helping our customers both find their new home or when their circumstances change and they are selling on, we fully understand how important it is to be part of a community where there are local events, clubs, and facilities to suit different generations and their needs. We are delighted that we can support this important project at the ‘heart’ of the village of Alverstoke."

We are delighted that White and Brooks have chosen The Alverstoke Parish Centre Regeneration Project as their charity partner. The building fund will receive a donation for each property they sell in the Alverstoke Ward, and White and Brooks will provide additional advertising for the Alverstoke Garden Walkabout 2025.

Full details of properties currently on the market through White and Brooks can be found at www.whiteandbrooks.co.uk.

The 'Fundraising' tab will tell you about our fundraising efforts, events past and future, how to make a donation, how much we have raised and how local residents and companies have generously supported our project.

How to get involved? Come to our events, sign up to receive our newsletter, volunteer to help. Contact us on parishcentreregeneration2020@gmail.com Please help us; we can't do it without you!

Please help us; we can't do it without you!

View and download the Latest Regeneration Newsletter