Community Centre
The Community Association and Chinley, Buxworth & Brownside Parish Council worked in partnership for more than ten years to realise their aspiration to rebuild the community centre at 21 Lower Lane, Chinley. In April 2025, the new building was finally opened.
History
The need for a new community centre was first identified in the Parish Plan of 2005. In 2007, after the Community Association had been formed and took over management of the old community centre from Derbyshire County Council.
In 2016, the former building was asset transferred to the Parish Council from Derbyshire County Council to save it from demolition and the Community Association continued to manage the building. It was already in a poor condition back then and way beyond its life expectancy. However, securing funding, finalising the project scope and getting planning permission took time and since the building was still functional it continued to serve its purpose for a further 8 years.
Fortunately in 2023, just as the building was reaching the end of its usable life, we secured sufficient funding to rebuild it. Contractors were appointed and the former community centre was demolished in June 2024.
Grand Opening
The Community Association and Parish Council were very happy to welcome the local community, supporters and funders to the Grand Opening of the new Chinley & Buxworth Community Centre on 11 and 12 April 2025. A new community centre had been a dream for nearly twenty years and the sun shone down as the project team welcomed hundreds of people across the two days to take a tour around the new facilities.
The new building consists of a spacious main hall suitable for a wide variety of activities and functions, a meeting room, kitchen, social circulation space, library area, changing rooms, accessible WC as well as shower and toilet facilities. The Parish Council's office is also now located here. The car park has been upgraded and is more accessible and there are cycle hoops. The building is sustainable - with solar panels and an air source heat pump, and is accessible for those with additional access needs. The rear of the building is finished off with a terrace with glass balustrade overlooking the playing fields and the stunning Eccles Pike.
The Parish Council owns the new building but have leased it to the Community Association who are responsible for managing the new facility.
Funding
The Community Association and Parish Council are grateful for the support from the following key funders, without whose support this project would not have been possible:
National Lottery Community Fund
UK Government's Community Ownership Fund
UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund
Derbyshire County Council
Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund
High Peak Borough Council
Bernard Sunley Foundation
The Barnabas Charitable Trust
Wain Homes
Garfield Weston Foundation
Breedon
Sport England
Kelsa Truck Products
There has also been significant community support for the project which was evident in our successful crowdfunder campaign that ran in summer 2023. Including match funding from Sport England and direct donations to the Community Association, over £50,000 was raised as a result of this campaign from over 500 supporters! Both the Community Centre and Parish Council are grateful for the support from our community and local businesses. Two thank you boards in the front lobby of the community centre acknowledge the support received.
We are continuing to fundraise to improve the facilities available even further. In particular, we are currently seeking funding to upgrade the accessible WC to a Changing Places facility and to improve the Hard Court adjacent to the building. If you are able to offer any help or financial assistance, please contact fundraiser@chinleyca.org.uk.