Re-opening the St Ives Corn Exchange

Alison Melnyczuk

Town Clerk

Nick Dibben

Town Mayor

Re-opening the St Ives Corn Exchange

From this …… to this

• Background• Design Development • Construction• Operation• Lessons learnt 2

Background • Built 1864• Market traders / community use• Grade 2 listed • Town centre location

By 2000s • Run by Town Council• Subsidy £30,000 pa• Poor state of repair • Structural issues• Closed 2001

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The Dark Ages • Public support for re-

opening but no progress

• Lack of vision• Town Council divided? • Little contact with public or possible users • £100,000 on fees

• Decide to sell in October 2006

• Strong public disapproval !!!4

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Developing a Business Plan

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Business Plan

User needsOperational set up

Building costs

IncomeRunning costs

Design brief

Possible users • Community group

meetings• Markets / Fairs • Music / drama • Parties / dinners • Exercise /dance

classes• Playgroup • Sports

• Commercial meetings• Conferences• Community cinema• Tea shop • Fashion show• Local boxing

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Public consultation

• Pubic exhibitions

• Survey in Council magazine

• Press article

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Building requirements • Users Requirements• Meetings Chairs / tables / tea facility /

basic AV • Markets • Exercise Classes Clear space • Exhibitions• Parties Bar? / extra cooking facilities • Performances Stage, sound and lighting, blackout • Nursery Special WCs, outdoor play area • Conferences Extra AV / break out areas • Cinema Better AV , tierd seating

• Office/ Storage/ Plant spaces/ cloakroom/ cleaners room / parking 8

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Design stage • Original Business Plan produced by ACE, updated by Town

Council• Develop building brief

• Scope of basic building and fit out• Appoint design team :

• Architect, structural and services engineers, QS, • CDM Co-ordinator, legal input

Key decisions • Local firms (cheap?) or experienced firms • Type of contract • Managing the design – the working party !

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Key design decision

Retain or re-build the back? •Rear of building

• complex layout• Not DDA compliant • Small kitchen • Opportunity • Extra meeting space • More storage• Bigger kitchen • Reduce construction risk

Extra cost £150,000 10

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Legal duties • Asbestos survey ( legal requirement)• Comply with H&S requirements for workspaces

• CDM (construction design management) • Intent to reduce risk during construction and operation /

maintenance • For a large project the Client has duties• Client appoints CDM Co-ordinator • Refer HSE web-site for details

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Organisation

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Funding Total cost £1,200,000•Town Council

• Capital put aside each year (£500,000)• Public works loan (£500,000)

• District Council• Grant for urgent repairs (£30,000)

• ACE • Funding for fit out (£100,000)

• Fund raising events• Donations• Grants

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Re-opening

June 2010

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Day to day running Task By

Bookings CIC 2 part time staff / software

Cleaning CIC - contract

Marketing / web-site CIC – volunteers

Accounts CIC – volunteer

Future Strategy CIC

H&S CIC – volunteer

Reception Volunteers (50 on rota)

Tea shop Volunteers

Special events ACE / CIC staff

Day to day maintenance Volunteers

Fabric and services maintenance Town Council 15

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Lessons Learnt Process:

Have a good brief and stick to itInvolve community Seek advice when neededAccept ups and downs

Building:More storage space Needed larger office Bars under usedStage lighting and sound under used Lamp changing ( don’t use low voltage lamps)

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