Lovat Hall re-opens to the community
04/04/2025
Lovat Hall re-opens to the Community after a recent refurbishment amid rave reviews
Community groups in Newport Pagnell and the wider area are enjoying being able to meet back in Lovat Hall, following a 3-month closure. The center was closed to allow a much needed upgrade.
The church who own the building, operate it as a community centre throughout the week and 75% of the building’s use is for the local community, with activities providing recreation, social connection and support for everyone from babies to the elderly. Over 30 user groups are benefitting from the project, some of whom have been meeting in the building for more than 40 years.
Work on the refurbishment began last year when the old leaking asbestos sheet roof was replaced with a new roof, new double-glazed windows replaced single glazing, damaged ceilings were replaced and solar panels with a battery system were installed to provide sustainable energy for the site. Prior to reopening to the public the maple sprung floor was restored, and the hall repainted and dressed with new curtains and blinds.
A ‘thank you’ afternoon tea was held to acknowledge the contributions of external funders who supported the project. This was attended by the Newport Pagnell Baptist Church project team, local councillors including the Mayor of Newport Pagnell, Cllr Paul Day, and representatives from the external funders, including Robert Harris from FCC Environment and the main contractor, Neville Special Projects. A plaque to acknowledge the financial support received is now situated inside the entrance to Lovat Hall.
Steve Wood, Senior Minister of Newport Pagnell Baptist Church says, “As we reach the end of this year we are delighted that the hall is now weathertight, warm, energy efficient and welcoming to all. We are so grateful for the donations from our own church family and for the support of the external funders who got behind the project to enable it to happen. As a result, our community can continue to enjoy the hall for many years to come, as we shift our focus to bringing other areas of the building up to the same standard.”
The project benefitted from £250,000 of capital funds and additional revenue support from the Government’s Community Ownership Fund, administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
FCC Communities Foundation provided £100,000 towards the new roof, ceilings and solar panels system.
The Milton Keynes City Councils’ Carbon Offset Fund also provided £56,000 of support for elements of the hall refurbishment which helped to reduce carbon emissions. Cabinet Member for Economy, Sustainability, and Innovation, Cllr Shanika Mahendran, said:
“It was fantastic to visit Newport Pagnell Baptist Church to see the major sustainability upgrades they have made. Thanks to the Carbon Offset Fund, they’ve been able to introduce measures which mean they now have greatly reduced electricity bills. This is an excellent example of how an organisation has been able to use the fund to cut carbon emissions and focus on delivering services for their community.”
Milton Keynes Community Foundation also provided £5,000 to support the project. Ambs Wright, Philanthropy Officer at MK Community Foundation, said “Attending Newport Pagnell Baptist Church's Thank You Afternoon Tea was truly heart-warming. Celebrating the refurbished Lovat Hall, a shining example of dedication and collaboration, made us proud to have funded solar panels, creating a more sustainable, accessible space for the community.
Thank you to Rob, Sara and Sam for producing these great videos showing the difference our funding makes, click the links to watch on YouTube:
NPBC Lovat Hall Main Hall Refurbishment - Words from our community [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrBst7qo5dk] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrBst7qo5dk] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrBst7qo5dk]
NPBC Lovat Hall Main Hall Refurbishment - Thank You to our funders [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vW9ldD3Dm4] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vW9ldD3Dm4] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vW9ldD3Dm4]
