An artist's impression of how the church will look from Station Road(Image: DDDC)

This is what Ashbourne Methodist Church will look like when it is turned into a community hub

New artist's impressions have been released

by · Derbyshire Live

This is what the 140-year-old Ashbourne Methodist Church will look like when it is turned into a modern multi-purpose community hub by 2025. The project is part of the current Ashbourne Reborn programme which was boosted this week when Derbyshire Dales District Council planners gave the go-ahead for the church improvements.

Work can start on the church next year subject to meeting conditions relating to ecology, the protection of wildlife and flood risk. It will see the the building of a new foyer linking three current buildings into one accessible suite, creating a flexible performance, events and worship space.

The hub will be for use by people across the Ashbourne area(Image: DDDC)

Meeting rooms of various sizes will be developed for community and business use, and the Gateway Centre will be remodelled to provide affordable quality visitor accommodation. The Cornerstone Coffee Shop will be upgraded and a community garden created with ramped access. Work is anticipated to start in June 2024, and be completed by summer 2025.

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Speaking after the meeting, Tony Walker, leader of the link development team of Ashbourne Methodist Church, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received planning permission for the full scheme as envisioned in the Ashbourne Reborn proposals.

"Our vision is to provide a seven-days-a-week community, arts and church resource which contributes to our town for decades to come. With this approval, and the funding we have, we can look forward with confidence to this vision becoming a reality."

The redevelopment of Ashbourne Methodist Church is budgeted to cost £6.418 million, with £4.972 million from the Government's Levelling Up Fund and £1.446 million in match funding raised by the church. Significant funds have already been raised from church members and friends as well as grants from the Methodist Church, grant giving organisations and local businesses.

An artist's impression of the main entrance to the hub from inside and on the first floor level(Image: DDDC)

In January this year, central Government approved a Levelling Up Fund (LUF) bid designed to transform the town centre. LUF is contributing £13.4 million and the total programme will cost £15.2 million, of which the church project is part.

The bid was developed through close working with local partners who brought forward project ideas, identified opportunities and raised match-funding for the bid. Ashbourne Reborn is led by Derbyshire Dales District Council working with Derbyshire County Council and Ashbourne Methodist Church as key delivery partners, in collaboration with Ashbourne Town Team, Ashbourne Town Council and AshCom.