PLANS to build a brand-new community hub in Malmesbury have been given the green light. 

Wiltshire Council has recently approved plans to demolish damp old outbuildings - including a club room and garages - to make way for  a modern parish hall in St Aldhelm's Roman Catholic Church's courtyard in Cross Hayes Lane, Malmesbury.

Once built, the new hall will host additional functions outside of worship services such as youth group meetings, children’s liturgy sessions, finance committee meetings, parish seminars and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions.

The church's current club room was described as uncomfortable, damp and poorly lit in the planning application, therefore no longer 'fit for purpose'. 

The planning statement submitted to Wiltshire Council by the church in November states: "St Aldhelm’s has a thriving church community, which would benefit from a purpose-built venue for additional functions outside of worship services. 

"The old outbuildings within the courtyard to the west of the church are not fit for purpose and do not make best use of the space available. 

"A new parish hall with modern facilities would enable the church congregation to meet in large and small groups, and also welcome visitors from the wider community of Malmesbury to enjoy social activities on a regular basis."

Wiltshire-based architect company Chedburn Codd submitted drawings of what the ground floor could look like, which include space for around 60 seats, a modern kitchen and two accessible toilets. 

Meanwhile, the first floor drawings encompassed a smaller meeting room, a parish office and space for storage.

Proposed materials for the parish hall included natural slate roof tiles with lead ridge and hips, exposed timber lintels and coursed squared rubble stone walls.

This application was officially approved by Wiltshire Council on Friday, April 5.

Corporate director of place at Wiltshire Council Parvis Khansari issued a decision notice which stated that the new parish hall could go ahead as long as it adheres to four conditions.

The first condition is that work on the development must start in the next three years from the date of the decision notice.

Secondly, the development must follow the proposed design from the planning, design and access statements which were originally submitted to Wiltshire Council by the applicant in November 2023 and March 2024.

Thirdly, no work can commence until details and samples of the materials to be used on the external walls, foods and fenestration have been submitted and approved by the Local Planning Authority.

Lastly, no development can start until archaeological work has been carried out. 

A fundraising team has been appointed to raise money for this project and plan to fund it through various sources including donors, parish fundraising and grants.