Recent history of new Community Centre plans

Since November 2001, when British Waterways (BW) accepted Bellway Homes' bid to develop the canalside land in Jericho, the Community Association has actively sought to work with both BW and their developers.

In November 2001 we prepared a business plan, approved by City Council officers, to demonstrate the minimum space required for a sustainable community facility that caters for current and future needs.
We had a number of exploratory meetings with Bellway Homes. Their offers of a small centre of 2,800 sq. ft. in a central location or 3,500 sq. ft. on Dawson Place were rejected as being inadequate and unsustainable.
We met with planners and housing officers to seek the planning perspective in the light of the new Local Plan requirement for the development to provide a sustainable Community Centre.
In May 2002, we opted for a pragmatic approach: BW and Bellway Homes were unlikely to offer valuable canalside space, so we sought additional land to add to the land from the City at Dawson Place.
We made a proposal to BW at the end of May 2002 suggesting an extra 0.1 acres (approx) be offered.
Despite another meeting in August, BW in early December refused any additional land and said it chose to resolve the issue through the planning process.
The Community Association further suggested a scheme in January 2003 which consolidated the affordable housing on the northern part of the site together with the community centre, while retaining all of the private housing required by Bellways. This was rejected within 24 hours.
Despite much lobbying, including a January meeting between our MP, Dr Evan Harris, and BW and the discussion of the matter at full BW board level, BW still declined to offer land.
BW's Chairman wrote on 5th February 2003: "We are confident that the local planning process will confirm that our proposals easily meet the local authorities' requirements in respect of public benefit and contribution from the redevelopment."
In May 2004 the City Council resoundingly rejected the planning application, one of the grounds being the lack of adequate provision for a new centre.
British Waterways and Bellways appealed against the decision. A planning inquiry on the appeal was held in March and May, and in August the Inspector announced that he had dismissed the appeal saying he could see no reason why Bellway could not accommodate a sustainably sized community centre on the site.
In November 2005 the City Council’s Local Plan 2001-2016 was adopted. This identified a new community centre as one of the required uses for any redevelopment of the BWB site.
In 13th December 2005, Central South and West Area Committee agreed to make a revenue allocation of £33,750 towards the costs envisaged by JCA in engaging property and financial consultants to progress the negotiations, planning and feasibility work of the scheme and any associated project management.
May 2006. British Waterways forcibly evicts a group of boaters who had occupied the site. A large fence is constructed.
Summer 2006. BWB's new preferred developer emerged: Spring Residential.
In December 2006, Council's Executive Board endorsed a strategy for the procurement, future ownership, and management of the new centre. The full report to the Board, on which this decision was based, is available as a pdf file if you click here: Report to Executive.
February 2007. The JCA agrees with Spring Residential the contribution of a piece of land should the development go ahead. Spring makes a presentation of its initial plans at the Jericho Community Centre.
April 2007. JCA makes an application to the Big Lottery Fund for £500,000 towards the construction of the new centre.
May 2007. JCA exchanges contracts with Spring to secure the land for the community,