Stoke Holy Cross interim village hall built in car park

South Norfolk Council (SNC) has approved a bid for a modular building, which will be built over nine parking spaces at the Pavilion Community Hall in Stoke Holy Cross.  

Plans to knock down and rebuild the village hall were first approved in 2019 but the new application will now see the temporary structure in use while the new building is constructed. 

An artist's impression of how the Pavilion will look once complete (Image: Stoke Holy Cross Parish Council/Chaplin Farrant)

The new community centre will include a large hall, meeting room, cafe and bar facilities and improved space for the village pre-school. 

There will also be a patio and viewing area overlooking the playing fields. 

The current pavilion opened in 1983 and, along with the playing fields, is owned and managed by the parish council. 

When the 2019 application was submitted Stoke Holy Cross Parish Council said the current building was “struggling to meet the needs of the growing village”. 

The interim structure will be in place for around 12 months, with space for the nursery. 

The old village hall in Stoke Holy Cross (Image: Supplied)

If there are any delays in the rebuild, further permission will have to be sought to keep the non-permanent structures in place.

Approving the temporary building, an SNC planning official said: “This proposal will maintain the provision of this community facility during the interim period whilst a new village hall is built. 

“The temporary building is closer to residential properties than the existing and proposed permanent facility.   

“The development could cause some noise and disturbance but this is not considered significant enough to warrant refusal of the application given the temporary nature of the development.” 

The temporary modular building will be located on the eastern side of the site.