Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Recreation and Heritage Item 6

29 May 2003

Tile Barn Outdoor Development Centre

Report by the Director of Recreation and Heritage and the Director of

Property, Business and Regulatory Services

1

Summary

1.1

The Tile Barn Outdoor Centre is located off Church Lane in Brockenhurst. The residential facilities at the Centre currently limit use to the warmer months and the construction of a purpose-built, permanent accommodation block would enable an additional 5,000 `bednights' per annum, representing up to 2,000 new young people in the first year of operation. This would be in addition to the current level of 15,500 `bednights' spent under canvas.

1.2

The replacement office building has been designed to provide a more effective reception point for the centre, providing better working space for staff and a clearly designated arrival point for groups. In addition, the design incorporates much needed improvements for equipment storage, and provides a more appropriate `observation point' from which to supervise the site as a whole.

1.3

In April 2002, members of the Recreation and Heritage PRC formally endorsed the Outdoor Service Strategic Plan, in which the development of the Bunkhouse was accepted as a key element for Tile Barn's development. This was ratified by the Executive Member in May 2002. The strategy focused upon the contribution that the Outdoor Activities Service could make to enabling the County Council to meet its corporate objectives, particularly as they apply to young people. The project, especially the Bunkhouse, will enable Tile Barn to more effectively contribute to the policy of enabling access for young people to challenging outdoor activity by opening up the Centre for full 12 month residential operation. This is particularly true for those groups working in and through the Youth Service, who are attempting to engage with youngsters in `hard to reach' areas of the county.

2.

Scope of the Works

2.1

The new accommodation block will house 34 young people and four staff in separate male/female units. The facility will extend from and incorporate the current classroom, which will become a multi-use space for groups using the Bunkhouse - an activity/dining/workroom. Two bedrooms with wheelchair accessible wc/shower will also be formed in the existing classroom building, adjacent to the multi-use space.

2.2

The new administration block will comprise an office, reception area and improved storage facilities. The Warden's accommodation (for staff on overnight duty) comprising a bedroom/kitchen/bathroom will be provided adjacent to the office accommodation.

3.

Funding and Timing

3.1

The capital cost of the bunkhouse facility (£213,000 incl fees) is being met in part by the successful application to the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) for Sport and PE, which will provide £102,000. The balance is included in the Recreation and Heritage capital programme for 2003/2004.

3.2

The capital cost of the reception/office/storage building (£200,000 incl fees) will be met entirely from Recreation and Heritage resources. Of this, £90,000 has already been set aside, and the remaining £110,000 will be funded from the Recreation and Heritage capital programme for 2003/04.

3.3

There are clear cost-benefit savings to be achieved by commissioning the two projects together and operational benefits of undertaking parallel construction of the buildings. It is therefore intended to tender the two projects as one package. It is intended to complete the work during the `close' season, ie commence October 2003, complete March 2004.

Recommendation

That the permanent residential facility for young people, the improved office facility and removal of the temporary buildings from the site be supported and submitted to the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage for his consideration.