MOVES to transform one of Diss' most prominent buildings into a thriving arts and cultural venue have taken another step forward.A business plan is being prepared which will endorse the applications needed for major funding grants for the £1.
MOVES to transform one of Diss' most prominent buildings into a thriving arts and cultural venue have taken another step forward.
A business plan is being prepared which will endorse the applications needed for major funding grants for the £1.8m project to revamp the town's Corn Hall.
Last November, Michael Windridge, then South Norfolk Council's cabinet member for tourism, heritage, enterprise and culture, said any requests for money from the authority would be considered on completion of such a plan, and council leader John Fuller has said support and guidance from its leisure services would continue in the meantime.
Henrietta Boex, from the working party's project management company DeFacto, expects to have the business plan ready by July to present to Diss Town Council and which, if approved, will be presented to the district council's cabinet in the autumn.
Meanwhile, the working party is looking to increase its membership to include local people who had expressed interest in the project at the consultation evening in April.
Town mayor Simon Olander said: “We will need people with skills, knowledge and enthusiasm to steer us through the next most important stage of the development. We will be inviting those who have approached us to an informal evening at the Corn Hall on June 10, after which council will then decide whom to enlist. We need to create a design and build team.”
The town council decided at its last meeting to appoint a part-time project coordinator to progress both the Corn Hall and the park regeneration project. This post will be advertised.
Sheila Moss, chairman of the Pennoyer's Village Centre, gave a presentation to working party members at their meeting last week, to explain the processes involved in the successful development of the project at Pulham St Mary.
The revamped Corn Hall would include a theatre, concert hall, cinema and conference centre, and a regenerated Mere and park area.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here