Housebuilders donate to Somerset community hall redevelopment

A five-star rated housebuilder has donated funds for the next phase of the extension of Caryford Community Hall.

Persimmon Homes Severn Valley donated £2,000 following an application to its Community Champions scheme, which will fund various equipment as part of a project that will see the Hall – originally open in 1994 and run by an independent and charitable trust – double its floor space.

Its first phase – which saw an old meeting room converted into a kitchen – was completed shortly before the pandemic struck, while a second phase involving a secondary hall, new meeting room and new ladies’ toilets is currently underway. The third and final phase provides a foyer that brings all the elements of the building together and new gents’ and disabled person’s toilets.

The Hall’s expansion comes as its popularity has grown, with its calendar often full of events and classes, and its need to meet demand. Some events held have been part of the fundraising effort for the redevelopment, from music and quiz nights to lectures and dance shows.

Persimmon currently has a reserved matters planning application for 165 high-quality homes for local people, helping to address the area’s housing need, on land between Station Road and Torbay Road in Castle Cary.

A successful application will trigger financial contributions towards education and new leisure and recreation in the area – which would include the Community Hall – as well as biodiversity enhancements including hedgerow creation and woodland planting, and the provision of public open space, an equipped play area, and housing for a local housing association partner.

The developer’s Community Champions initiative which sees over £700,000 spent on good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain every year.

Commenting, Persimmon Homes Severn Valley Sales Director Carly Spear, said:

“Persimmon is delighted to be able to help with this exciting project that will be of enormous benefit to the people of Ansford, Castle Cary, and nearby villages.

“It is extremely impressive that this small, community-run charity have been able to secure all the necessary funding with this ambitious expansion project and I commend them on the impressive results on their hard work.

“Should we be successful in securing planning permission to bring much needed high-quality homes to Castle Cary, then I know those residents will be delighted with the hall once the trustees’ vision has reached its completion.”

Ian Bynoe – Caryford Community Hall Chairman – added:

“We’re thrilled that our application was successful and are grateful to Persimmon for their help in the Caryford Hall expansion project.

“It takes a lot of work to fundraise for a project of this scale and it is such a vote of confidence in our plans each time we’re successful in appealing for funds.

“We look forward to the point where we can significantly increase our offering to the local community see more events, more meetings, and more activities taking place in the hall.”