Gamlingay Eco Hub

Client and Partners: Gamlingay Parish Council, Green Sand Ridge Project, Bedford Rural Communities Charity, Coin Street Community Builders, Bidwells structural engineers, Building Services Design; NTN Partnership.

Size: Three extensions and extensive re-modeling.

Current Stage: Under construction. Completion programmed for December 2011.

Cost:£1.16M

When the remodelling of the existing Gamlingay Community Centre is complete, it will be the first community centre in the country to incorporate three different passive technologies without fossil fuel backup, including photovoltaics and solar water heaters to produce electricity and hot water and ground source heat pumps to provide heating.

When the remodelled building re-opens, it will provide the sort of facilities small communities aspire to, including a library, a large hall for sport and functions, a kitchen, a café/servery, changing rooms, a new dance studio and a Parish Council office.

With additions to the front creating a more welcoming entrance, foyer and office and a timber framed dance hall at the east end, the centre will have increased its floor area by 60% and it could be argued that its sustainability credentials have been further enhanced by its re-use of the existing building, instead of demolition.

above: The exposed Dance Hall roof, and the finished space visualised (see below).

left: The main entrance is relocated to the corner closest to the street.

above: The proposals create a light and open new resource space at the main entrance.

above: The original 1974 building had closed. There was no central heating and little insulation.