Nottinghamshire: Estate house set for community centre conversion

Plans for a community centre on a Nottinghamshire housing estate are set to be given the go-ahead this week.

A house on Manvers View in Boughton, Newark, will be a space for residents to meet police, the NHS, Citizens Advice and other services.

Planning documents say it will allow local people to become involved in improvements to their area.

Newark and Sherwood District Council's planning committee is set to approve the scheme on Thursday.

The Retford Road housing estate is among the 10% of most deprived areas of the country, according to the income deprivation scale, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The three-bedroom council house would be converted to have a large downstairs meeting room, with private spaces upstairs.

Planning documents state: "It will provide a base for initiatives to grow, to tackle local issues in partnership with the police, community safety teams, Housing Services and Waste Management, NHS, Credit Union, CVS, CAB, Inspire and several other agencies.

"While the loss of one social dwelling is regrettable, the property would be used for residents to help improve health and wellbeing, reduce crime and improve the feelings of safety in the communities.

"When/if it is no longer required, the property can easily be converted back into a dwelling."

Coffee mornings, fundraising activities and education sessions are also likely to be held there, the documents said.

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