First look inside new £1m Stoke Holy Cross village hall

The pictures show how the construction of the building, which is replacing the pavilion along Norwich Road in Stoke Holy Cross, is progressing.

Funding for the new village hall was allocated in 2014.

But work to demolish the existing building, which had been deemed “no longer suitable” for the area’s growing population, did not begin until earlier this year.

The initial opening date of August was missed due to bad weather slowing construction.

The new hall is replacing the former pavilion which was deemed unsuitable (Image: Stoke Holy Cross Parish Council)

Members of the parish council then set a September deadline but this too was missed. 

Sandy Collins, the council's chairwoman, has since said the project has "not long to go" and is coming "sometime in November".

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She also shared a collection of first-look pictures from inside the new building which will host its first event on December 21.

The pictures show a large room overlooking the football pitch to the west and a fitted kitchen with accompanying bathrooms. 

It is costing £1m to build and will home the village's pre-school once open (Image: Stoke Holy Cross Parish Council)

Modern bathrooms and a fitted kitchen come as part of the build (Image: Stoke Holy Cross Parish Council) There is also a smaller conference room off to the side and the ground has been cleared for a paved patio at the back.

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However, certain designs have been changed, such as the outdoor steps being made of metal instead of concrete. 

Certain designs have been changed to keep costs manageable, however (Image: Stoke Holy Cross Parish Council) Ms Collins said these were "necessary to keep costs manageable" as the project has already overrun twice in as many months. 

A temporary modular building has been installed in the car park to provide a community space while the new hall is constructed.

It has been funded in part by South Norfolk Council's co-investment fund as well as community infrastructure payments made to the authority - money that developers have to pay as part of the conditions in place to allow new housing schemes to go ahead.