The Simpson Centre Consultation

Why Are We Consulting?

The Town Council is seeking your views on the future of the Simpson Centre. With the library relocating to the Greenacre Site and the adjacent café also ceasing to trade, the building will soon become vacant.

The Simpson Centre requires significant investment to modernise the building. However, other community assets also require improvement, and the potential sale of the land at Simpson Centre could fund these improvements. The proceeds from any sale has to be invested into another capital project in the town. This could be renovations to the Memorial Hall or other buildings owned by the Town Council, or equipment in our open spaces.

Our FAQs are available here.

The Options the Town Council would like to gather feedback on are below.

Option 1 - Sell as a Parcel of Land

Pros:

Immediate financial return with a lump-sum payment.

No ongoing financial risk to the Town Council.

Proceeds could be reinvested into community facilities such as the Memorial Hall.

Cons:

No control over future development.

Risk that the site may be used for purposes not aligned with community interests.

Potential missed opportunity for long-term community benefit.

Option 2 - Sell with Outline Planning Permission

Pros:

Could increase the property’s value by 15-30%.

Allows some control over the site’s intended use.

More attractive to developers, potentially leading to a quicker sale.

Cons:

Requires additional time and costs to secure planning permission.

No guarantee that future development will fully align with approved plans.

Could delay the sale due to planning restrictions.

Option 3 - Sell with Caveat for Affordable Housing Development

Pros:

Supports the need for more affordable housing in the area.

Provides funds that could be reinvested into local facilities.

Cons:

Likely lower sale price (10-20% below market value).

Fewer potential buyers, possibly delaying the sale.

Limited control over how the affordable housing is managed after the sale.

Option 4 - Repurpose the Site for Community Use

Pros:

Direct benefit to the local community.

Strengthens public trust and aligns with community engagement goals.

Could serve as a valuable community space.

Cons:

High refurbishment or redevelopment costs.

Ongoing operational and maintenance expenses.

No immediate financial return, making it a long-term commitment.

Funds could instead be used to improve other well-used community spaces like the Memorial Hall.

How to Give Your Feedback

We welcome your feedback on the options outlined above. Please complete the questionnaire and return it to the Town Council by 4th June 2025. You can also complete this consultation online here.

The consultation will be open following the Annual Town Meeting on the 30th April 2025 and close at midnight on the 4th June 2025 .

We invite residents to attend a meeting at the Greenacre Centre on the 20th May 2025 from 4pm - 8pm. This will be attended by Councillors and Officers of the Town Council to answer your questions and discuss the consultation.