Annual Report 2024 up to 30th September 2024
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The Rebuild Project was initiated in April 2022 to provide a new Hall fit for purpose and will continue to be a fitting memorial for the sixteen men of Wistaston who lost their lives during the Second World War.
The project made excellent progress in 2023, working on surveys of both our site and the community, initiating talks with our chosen architect and undertaking a formal options appraisal to choose the most appropriate option for rebuilding the Hall. 
​The project name was changed from New Build to Rebuild on 6th November 2023 to make it clear the objective is to rebuild an existing asset rather than build a new asset. This is important for funding applications where rebuilds but not new builds are supported.  
Rebuild Project Team
The Rebuild core project team consists of 6 Hall Trustees, Diane-Heather Edge-Robinson, Bill Heath, Bob Squirrell, Judy Gratton, Diane Houston and Anne Vetter. David Price, who has considerable experience in the construction industry, continues to provide valuable input on building related aspects of the project. 
Stephen Wright, grant application expert, continues to be employed to advise on The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF) application.
​The team continue to be assisted by the charity Cheshire Community Action (CCA), which provides an advisory service for village and community halls in Cheshire and is part of Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).
Options Appraisal - Choosing the Most Appropriate Option to Rebuild Hall
The project has been following The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF) guidelines to review options for rebuilding the Hall since May 2023. At the start of 2024 there were 3 options being considered. These were:
  • Option 1. Rebuild on Existing Footprint
  • Option 5. Rebuild on Part of Site – move Wistaston Jubilee Tennis Club to Wistaston Church Lane Academy land
Option 6. To reallocate the way the site is apportioned between Hall, Wistaston Jubilee Tennis Club and Wistaston Memorial Hall Bowling Club allowing the architect to look at the whole site and make best use of the space for all parties.
The main challenge we faced was how to cost each option. Based on the Rebuild Cost Assessment conducted by our Hall insurer Allied Westminster we assumed the same build cost of £1,000,000 for each option. Thanks go to Nick Brookes Demolition Ltd who generously visited the site and provided free of charge detailed demolition costs. 
On 2nd May 2024 we received a letter from Wistaston Church Lane Academy stating they were unable to support our project and at this point we closed option 5. 
​This left 2 viable options which we proceeded to score. Option 6, was selected and this was ratified at the Management Trustees meeting on 30th May 2024.  
Design Brief
​Work on the architect design brief commenced on 30th April 2024 and continued throughout the summer of 2024. Comments from user groups together with output from the Community Questionnaire were used as the starting point for the structure of the design brief, as well as guidelines for building a village hall from Sport England, ACRE and the TNLCF. The design brief was signed off by the Wistaston Memorial Hall and Community Centre Management Trustees on 26th September 2024.
Communications
Updates on the project are provided via the Rebuild page on the Wistaston Memorial Hall and Community Centre website together with The Roundabout magazine distributed to all households in Wistaston.
Finances
There was no project income and expenditure. Thank you to everyone involved in the project who have volunteered their time. 
Plans for Remainder of 2024 and 2025
  1. Obtain sign off of Design Brief from Wistaston Memorial Hall Bowling Club and Wistaston Jubilee Tennis Club.
  2. Issue Design Brief to architect Bower Edleston.
  3. Receive and review draft plans for new Hall from architect Bower Edleston.
  4. Consult with Stakeholders, User Groups and the local Community on Hall rebuild plans. Arrange a number of Open Days at the Hall to provide the opportunity for users and the wider community to view and discuss the plans with the Hall Management Trustees.
  5. Finalise plans for new Hall with architect Bower Edleston.
  6. Work with David Price to develop project timelines.
  7. Architect Bower Edleston to obtain planning permission from Cheshire East.
  8. With the assistance from Stephen Wright, write TNLCF Stage 1 Application.
  9. Subject to obtaining planning permission from Cheshire East submit Stage 1 application to The National Lottery Community Fund.
Other Rebuild Project Reports
Annual Report for 2022
​Annual Report for 2023
​Rebuild Project Background
​Rebuild Project Latest News
​Information regarding the progression of the project will be published on the website and in local communications.
If you would be interested in being involved in  the Rebuild project, we would love to hear from you.  Contact us at [email protected]