DNP7: The Village Hall

Proposals for a Village Hall scheme that serves the existing Dormansland Village will be supported, provided the scheme delivers a high-quality design to replace the War Memorial Hall and comprises a multi-purpose facility of a size capable of accommodating the following requirements:

1. A multi-purpose main hall that responds to Sports England Design Guidance
2. A Committee Room and Parish office
3. Kitchen, toilets, and adequate storage
4. Parking to approved standards.

The new hall should be designed to be energy and resource efficient to minimise running costs and mange thermal comfort.

The Village Hall policy contains a number of components, the combination of which has the capacity to deliver a significant community benefit for the Parish. This policy is included to support the Trustees of the Dormansland War Memorial Community Hall, should they consider the replacement of the existing building. A programme of refurbishment and upgrading of the facilities, started in 2021continues to improve a previously neglected facility. In the initial community engagement, it was identified as requiring upgrading or replacing to meet the demands from the community for a facility which could provide “a venue for indoor sport, drop in sessions for the elderly, therapy, IT and business rooms for local businesses and clubs.”

Dormansland and Lingfield share the Community Centre in Lingfield, but the distance from the village results in that being a second choice for many residents requiring community space, because of the preference for a local facility. Loss of the current facility for community use would be very strongly resisted because of the community use of the current venue.

The alternative option that could possibly be considered by the Trustees, should suitable land become available, is for a new purpose-built facility be provided, with the sale of the current site being used for financing. This is a matter for the trustees, but the DNP can offer evidence from community engagement that residents would support this, should such a scheme be brought forward.