Latest Plans !
On December 9th 2014 the Forest of Dean District Council planning committee voted unanimously in support of our plans. Full planning permission has been granted for refurbishing and extending the existing house, refurbishing the coach house building as well as building an additional accommodation block with a kitchen and dining hall. These extended facilities will provide us with flexible solutions for differing needs and are planned to include the following:
- 8 x dormitory rooms with beds for 58 young people
- 8 x twin bedded group leaders rooms
- dining hall for 80 – 100 people
- 2 x kitchens – large & small
- appropriate no. of internal showers and toilets
- some showers/toilets accessible to the outside
- disabled toilet
- disabled bedroom
- boot drying rooms
- laundry rooms
- improved equipment storage
- external covered activity space
- new waste water solution
- solar electricity generation
- ground source heating
- improved roadways across the site
- improved vehicle parking areas
- on-going maintenance of existing access track by the river Wye
- road to St. Briavels re-instated
We hope to complete the building works over the next 5 years, funding permitting.
- Phase 1 – funding in place
The first phase of works to upgrade the coach house building in order that it can be used as a site caretaker’s accommodation is planned to take place in 2015. We also plan to undertake the following work:
start the upgrade of the road to St. Briavels
upgrade the site power supply
improve the site drainage
prepare plans for Phase 2
Phase 2 – total cost +/- £1m
Construction of new accommodation block with kitchen and dining hall
The new accommodation block will contain 36 beds and provide catering facilities and a dining room for up to 100 people. The building will be eco-friendly, have solar panels and benefit from ground/air source heating. In addition there will be an outside covered area as well as storage space for equipment.
Phase 3 – Refurbishment of existing main building – cost +/- £600,000
The existing main house will be refurbished as the final part of the project with beds for 38 people. Most of the sleeping accommodation will be moved to the ground floor areas. The upper floors will be used as communal space.