5 February 2008 - Thumbs Up for Rowner’s
New Community Extension

Building work has begun on an important extension to the Nimrod Community Centre in Rowner. Funded by SEEDA and Portsmouth Housing Association the £400,000 extension will allow:

• The Rowner Access Point (RAP) to be relocated. As well as continuing its current range of services, RAP will become increasingly important as an independent information and advice resource for residents.

• A new social club area which will be used by the centre management to promote community involvement as well as helping to ensure that the Centre is self sustaining in the longer term. This could benefit the newly formed Grange Community Association.

• The Rowner Renewal team office. This will enable PHA staff and other members of the Partnership working on the project to be accessible to local residents. The current facilities of the centre such as the main hall, will also be used for occasional larger meetings and consultation events.

The Nimrod Centre is owned by Gosport Development Trust whose board includes representatives of Gosport Borough Council, Gosport Voluntary Action and Portsmouth Housing Association. The Centre is managed by Gosport Voluntary Action.

David Miles from Gosport Voluntary Action said:
“I am delighted that the new extension will provide so many additional facilities for the residents and community groups of Rowner. We have a thriving community here and at this point of the regeneration scheme, it is important that the Nimrod Centre is extended. RAP have long awaited new offices and of course the Rowner Renewal Partnership will soon be easily accessed. This is what we have all been waiting for.”

The work to extend the Centre is being managed by PHA and the contractor is Ralls Builders Ltd from Waterlooville. Work is expected to be completed in May. The extension has been funded via SEEDA’s Area Investment Fund which provided £240,000 and PHA have donated the balance.

Hazel Warwick, Group Regeneration and Development Director at PHA said:

“This is an important step forward and PHA is pleased that we could part fund the project. We can achieve this by the sale of Magennis Hall, an older community centre in Rowner. PHA will also establish a local office at the Nimrod Centre which will give the Rowner Renewal Project team a base in the heart of the community.”