The first stage of work to demolish the Keynsham Town Hall site will be started this week by the Council, on Wednesday 10th October 2012.
The clearance of all building internal areas and asbestos removal represents the first steps on-site towards regenerating the town centre replacing the existing buildings with new space for shops and restaurants, new library and One Stop Shop for local public sector services, new streets and spaces for markets and events, and low carbon sustainable Council offices.
Councillor David Bellotti (Lib-Dem, Lyncombe), Cabinet Member for Community Resources, said, “This is a really positive step towards Bath & North East Somerset Council realising our plans worked-up with the community to kick-start the local economy. The project is now starting to move from being a plan on paper towards real buildings with real opportunities for local people and their community.
“Momentum is building all of the time towards creating a vastly improved town centre in Keynsham that will result in new jobs and new homes with greater private sector investment.”
In preparation for this stage of work, premises and neighbours around the site have already been contacted to inform them of the impending works and hoarding prepared to surround the entire site. The public car park will continue to be in operation until further notice.
The work will be carried out by Willmott Dixon and the initial enabling works, which includes safely removing any asbestos, is estimated to be complete in 12 weeks. Willmott Dixon’s director of operations in the South West, John Boughton, said: “We’re very excited to start on site and begin the first stage of Keynsham town centre’s regeneration. After this initial stage is complete, we will be a step closer to constructing a more modern, energy-efficient and vibrant centre for the community, which will also open up much needed local employment and investment opportunities.”
The Council has changed the proposals for the design of the buildings in response to the resolution of the Development Control Committee (DCC) in August. These have been agreed by Keynsham Town Council and are currently subject to public consultation. The application is anticipated to be considered at the DCC on 24th October 2012.
For more information on the regeneration, including revised drawings, go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/keynshamregen
