A seven-figure bid to give Rowledge a village hall fit for the 21st century has been given an £800,000 funding boost.

Plans to replace the village’s dilapidated hall with a “resilient” and “eco-friendly” build are close to becoming a reality thanks to the handout from Surrey County Council.

The scheme is expected to cost around £2million but the grant from the Surrey Big Fund, approved by cabinet members, has all but covered the bill with planning permission already granted.

Some £650,000 in CIL funding was approved by Waverley Borough Council early this year while EHDC awarded £60,000 in developer contributions.

New Rowledge Village Hall PIC1
Another view of the proposed new Rowledge Village Hall (Jim Duffy/Rowledge Village Hall Trustees)

The new hall designed by architect, Jim Duffy, will replace a building that’s “beyond repair” and more than century old, with its facilities deemed too small to host and cater for many events.

Its sustainable and energy-efficient replacement at the Cherryfields site on Fullers Lane will provide facilities for residents of all ages, an expanded range of activities, and potential for higher income.

Rowledge Village Hall (RVH) trustees were given a helping hand by Farnham Residents (FRG) councillors as Peter Clark supported their CIL bid to Waverley Borough Council while Michaela Martin of SCC backed the £800,000 bid to the Surrey Big Fund.

Nearly £1.5million in council funding has been secured with FRG assistance to provide a “modern” and “much-needed community facility” to serve Rowledge and south Farnham residents of all ages.

Building work is expected to begin in early 2025 with construction expected to take around 12 months.