Exciting plans to replace a century-old hall in a growing village south of Farnham have been given a £60,000 boost by East Hampshire District Council.

The project to build a new Rowledge Village Hall was one of 17 around East Hampshire to receive a share of £1.5million in developer contributions.

The hall is more than 100 years old while the building’s condition has deteriorated in recent years.

The main room and kitchen are also considered too small to host and cater for many events while outdoor space is also limited.

Its replacement is expected to cost around £2million with planning permission for a new hall being granted by EHDC in October 22.

The Rowledge Village Hall Trustees completed the purchase of a new site at Cherryfields on Fullers Road for the community hall in March 2024. It is hoped building work will begin early next year with construction expected to take around 12 months.

The site’s location was a purposeful decision made by trustees as it’s in the centre of the village and close to the recreation ground and primary school.

“New homes built in East Hampshire outside the national park provide money that can be put towards improving the local infrastructure,” said Cllr Angela Glass, EHDC portfolio holder for regulation and enforcement.  

“This year we have allocated money to schemes that will have a really positive impact on the lives of our residents and will help offset the impact that development has on our communities.”

By Katie Harding