A community centre in a deprived Nottinghamshire estate is set to be demolished and replaced with council homes, following a year of inactivity post-pandemic. The Mill House Community Centre in Huthwaite, located on Mill Close, was closed last year after the local council deemed it unsustainable due to financial reasons.
The centre has remained unused since the Covid pandemic, with no events or bookings recorded in the 2022/23 fiscal year. Despite incurring daily running costs, the facility did not generate any income. Moreover, maintaining the centre would require an estimated £36,000 over the next five years, prompting the council to propose its demolition.
The plan to demolish the community centre and construct two council homes in its place is set to be reviewed by the council’s planning committee on July 31. Although the proposal aims to address the urgent need for social housing, it has faced objections from residents. Five letters of objection have been submitted, raising concerns particularly about parking, given the nearby garages are also marked for demolition.
One local councillor expressed strong opposition to the plan, highlighting the negative impact on the Carsic Estate, an area already facing significant deprivation. The councillor stressed that losing the community centre would deprive residents of a valuable space for social and communal activities.
Despite the objections, the planning committee seems poised to support the demolition. In previous discussions, council members have emphasised the critical need for social housing in the district, noting that all available social homes are quickly occupied, indicating a severe housing shortage. The urgency to provide affordable housing appears to outweigh the financial impracticality of maintaining underused community centres.
This situation mirrors a similar case in Sutton, where another underused community centre was approved for demolition in April to be replaced with council bungalows. The closure of the Sutton centre was also driven by financial sustainability issues and lack of use.
A council member responsible for strategic housing supported the closures, indicating that the impact on residents would be minimal. The member pointed out the council’s clear ambition to build social homes across the district, suggesting that these spaces could be better utilised. The importance of providing affordable and good locations for social homes was emphasised, highlighting that alternative venues are available for community activities. For instance, the All Saint’s Centre in Huthwaite, located nearby, offers public access with regular hours, which could mitigate the loss of Mill House.
As the planning committee meeting date approaches, the debate over the future of the Mill House Community Centre underscores broader issues of balancing community needs with financial realities. The council’s decision will reflect its prioritisation of addressing the pressing housing shortage in the district.
Should the demolition be approved, the focus will shift to ensuring the swift construction of the proposed council homes to meet the urgent demand for social housing. This development highlights the ongoing challenge for local authorities to balance the preservation of community spaces with the necessity of providing adequate housing. The outcome of this decision will be a crucial indicator of the council’s strategy in managing community resources amid financial constraints and housing needs.
