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Writer's picturecarmel mary

Out with the Old: A New Community Hub in Brighton


St Joseph's community hall plan

St. Joseph Catholic Church has been granted permission to build a Community Centre in the heart of Hannover on Elm Grove, Brighton. The old and uninviting church hall will be demolished to build a new three-story building on Milton Road, Elm Grove.


The Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee approved the project, voting nine to one on 6th March, after a five-month deliberation period since the submission of the application in September 2023. The councilors said that they were glad the building would remain a community facility.


Catholic University Chaplain Joanna Gilbert said that the new community hub is designed to serve the wider local community, and the St. Joseph’s Church community has a desire to engage with families, toddlers and mothers, students, young adults, the elderly, and disadvantaged groups to ensure inclusivity for all.


Joanna added: “When the new building work begins, we are committed to working closely with local communities, charities, churches, schools, agencies, and authorities to identify and address the genuine needs of the area and how to make the services accessible and flexible to the wider community.”


The Strategic Project Manager Ben Gray said that the unwelcoming, old, brick-walled hall is not fulfilling its purpose for the local community. “This is a very ambitious project for us, and in developing the design of the building, we wanted to ensure above all else that it was welcoming, so we have tried to create a design that is homely, light, and spacious. “We have also designed all spaces to be multifunctional and flexible.


Ben added: “The ground floor will feature a welcoming coffee lounge seating 60, alongside a dedicated prayer space for 20 people.


“On the first floor, the common rooms can accommodate 40 people, a well-stocked library for 30, and two meeting rooms—one seating 12–15 and a smaller one for more intimate gatherings.


“The top floor is the cherry on the cake, offering a grand event space with lots of natural light and a capacity of 130, perfect for community events.” 


The church said that a team had been internally working on this “Community Centre Project” for the last three years. In addition to serving the local community, it will also be the base for work with Catholic students and young adults in the city. 


Sign up for more information and updates on the official website of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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