(18006) - St Augustine of Canterbury - To refurbish St Augustine’s Hall, kitchen and toilet facilities.

The main hall is currently closed for bookings on health and safety grounds due to its general state of disrepair, notably failings in the kitchen, the lack of a fire detection system, emergency lighting, the absence of any safety guarding on the stage and ineffective heating.

The project comprises a full refurbishment and remodelling of the outdated and unsanitary toilet facilities, and the inclusion of a new accessible toilet. The kitchen will be re-equipped, a fire-resistant shutter and a new fire door fitted. The dangerous steps to the stage will be removed and a barrier erected. A wired fire alarm system and emergency lighting will be fitted. The main areas will be repainted, and blinds will be installed. An existing level entry access will be brought back into use as the main entrance, and a large digital screen will be installed. The boiler will be replaced and the system replumbed such that the new boiler serves only the main hall. New radiators will also be installed.

The lower hall is a much smaller room, currently still open for limited bookings and is used by the Harehill's Irish men's group, the Vincent de Paul Society and refugee education training advice service. The applicant has consulted the community through digital and paper surveys. The nearest similar facility is St Aidan's Hall, 5 minutes’ walk away. Both sites have coexisted for many years and demand exceeds capacity.

This project will bring a valuable community asset back into use