In the heart of Watercolour Estate in Redhill, a vision for community connection has blossomed.
When the developers first proposed a new housing development behind Tesco’s in Watercolour, Cllr Steve Mckenna supported residents in calling for more than just houses. Residents wanted Watercolour to have a community centre, just as was promised when the original plans for the estate were drawn up nearly 20 years ago. Thus, the Watercolour Community Space project was born.
View a quick tour of the community space here
Now, nestled on the ground floor of Corfe House, just beyond the Holmhurst Medical Centre, stands a space designed to primarily serve the residents of Watercolour and the immediate surrounding areas.
This newly established community centre boasts three versatile rooms, offering a flexible space that could be used for meetings, children’s parties, classes, game nights, and a myriad of other activities.
With the space equipped with wifi and able to link to video projectors and furniture on order, the possibilities for gatherings and events are endless (noting though the limited available parking!).
On March 16th, the local volunteers and potential hirers of the space viewed the centre for the first time. Complete with a sizeable kitchen, accessible toilets, and a baby changing facility, the centre has been designed to meet the diverse needs of its users.
Initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Jonathan and Steve have worked alongside residents who have helped turn initial plans into a reality.
Following the planning committee granting permission for the development with the 140m2 ground floor of a block of flats to be fitted-out for the community the Watercolour Community Space has been established as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) which has employed an architect and contractor to turn this into a reality.
