Grant of £100,000 is saved – but cost of project materials has risen by £60,000
THE redevelopment of Lisvane Old School into a new community centre is set to begin next week, now funding issues have been resolved – but costs have gone up by £60,000 because of the delay.
The project has been held up since December as there has been a problem producing a drainage report, something needed for all building developments.
However, the drainage report has now been approved, and builders are expected to be on site on February 15.
David Jones, chair of the Trustees of the Lisvane Old School Community Centre charity said that interventions by David Walker, the Cardiff Council member for Lisvane, and Paul Orders, the chief executive of Cardiff Council, had helped them secure the drainage approval in time.
Trustees had originally been told the process could last until March, causing the loss of the grant.
The community centre charity now plan to sign the contract on Wednesday (February 10) so that builders can be on site by February 15.
The charity is now convinced the rest of the £100,000 Welsh Government grant can be spent before the deadline on top of the £18,000 for consultancy fees and £49,000 for structural design already allocated.
The remaining £30,000 given for the early stages of the build, will be used to demolish the cabin which previously housed the library, among other things.
The delay has meant the cost of the project has risen due to inflation in material prices, which has added £59,663. The overall cost is now £1,276,600.
The project is being funded by the grant, community contributions from local housing developments and fundraising by Lisvane residents and the council.
The building will now not be completed until spring 2022.
Councillors on Lisvane Community Council extended their thanks to David Jones, saying the “good news” wouldn’t have happened without his “constant, relentless movement forward under very difficult circumstances”.
