It is with great pleasure that I can announce the planning application to renovate Egglescliffe Parish Hall (16/2364/FUL) has been approved by Stockton Borough Council Planning Department (SBCPD).
The parish hall is a valued community asset that is used by a diverse number of groups and organisations, but it was recognised that it was in need of upgrading/renovation. To this end, a group of community organisations, church groups, local councillors and an independent chair agreed to form the Egglescliffe Renovation Group (ERG) to work together to bring the hall into the 21st Century. The improvements needed were quite extensive and required an architect to draw up new plans for submission to SBCPD.
The plans were validated by SBCPD on 25th October 2016, and were circulated for public consultation.
A total of 10 public comments of support were made and this will have gone a long way to help the council make their final decision. The ERG also held a number of consultation events with the local community, residents, parish hall users and the Parish Hall Association, and took on board comments made by people who attended the events.
On 16th December 2016, Richard McGukin, Director of Economic Growth and Development for Stockton Borough Council, confirmed in writing the planning application had been approved. ERG will now be looking at possible funding opportunities to allow them to achieve their aim of improving the parish hall for the benefit of the whole community.