Projects

The scheme will retain a historic Grade II listed building, which contributes to the special identity of New Mills. The centre would become a magnet for the arts and an added dimension in the profile of the township, as well as sustaining the quality of the local built environment and thus enhancing the local community’s sense of identity and place.

Converting the building into an arts centre will require an architect-designed scheme for the interior of the building to create an attractive multi-use space with level flooring and ease of access to all parts. In order to increase the flexibility of the building, a new-build extension is planned to provide space for toilets, storage, catering and a small meeting room. The interior will be fitted out with black out, performance flooring, a small theatre-lighting set-up, an audio system, stackable seating and tables. The architects commissioned for the design are The Bernard Taylor Partnership of Stockport.

The project has received grant funding for the development work from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Architectural Heritage Fund and the next step is to make bids for the main capital funding for the project. Our Round 1 HLF bid was successful and we are now close to submitting our stage 2 bid for the main capital funding; but this will need to be supplemented from other sources. We are currently approaching suitable trusts for this funding in addition to continuing to raise our own funds. The development team is led by Project Manager John Fildes and includes architects Bernard Taylor Partnership of Stockport, DBA Consulting from Sheffield and the Architectural History Practice.

Two considerations informed the plans we have agreed with the architects Bernard Taylor Partnership Ltd. These were the need for more service accommodation to make the church viable as a community and performance space and the need for easy level access throughout.

Access

The latter occasions the ramp from the pavement outside the church up to the entrance. It would have made more topographic sense to run in from the uphill side of course but this would have compromised the frontage of the almshouses and one of their entrance ways.

It also means level changes within the church buildings. The altar area and the vestry are raised above the level of the body of the church and initially it was proposed to raise the floor of the nave to match this with an electric chairlift at the rear alongside steps up to the new floor level. This was rejected on the grounds that it would compromise the internal proportions of the building, most noticeably reducing the height of the window cills and their relation to other vertical proportions. Instead it was suggested that the vestry floor be lowered to the level of the nave with the altar platform taken back to allow access through.

There is an undercroft under the vestry area and the ground levels outside allow a small extension to be built with minimal digging out. A smaller raised stage area is preserved and it is proposed that pull out stage extensions be incorporated to accommodate performances that need the extra space.

Service Accommodation

The small extension to the rear of the church allows for a refreshment area, toilets and a small meeting/green room. Separate doors will lead to the stage and to the auditorium from the service area. The outside ground levels mean a patio area offering views to Kinder can be created for use during the interval.

Our thanks must go to Peter Hatfield the architect whose patience and imagination made the design process so easy for us. We hope you like the result as much as we do.

Plan

East Elevation

Please note the Drawing title "West Elevation" is an error.

North Elevation

We are pleased to be able to report that our planning application has now been approved and we have listed buiding consent.

For better resolution you can also download the plan, east elevation and north elevation pdfs and the revised plan