27 Oct 2009

Residents of the Page Estate in Eltham joined Lakehouse, councillors and the local MP to celebrate the start of building work on a new community centre this month.

The £715K centre, funded by Greenwich Council, will offer facilities that can accommodate activities for all ages and all sectors of the local community. This will include providing a safe environment in which young people can take part in constructive and creative activities.

When it opens next spring the centre, in Newhaven Gardens, SE9, will be managed by local residents, through the Page Estate Action Project. Councillor Peter Brooks, Deputy Leader of Greenwich Council, said "This centre stands to make a really important contribution to the community life of the Page Estate. With residents in charge of the centre it will be a great chance for local people to shape the activities that are on offer for all ages."

The new centre will include a creche room, kitchen, cafe area and office as well as two multi-use activity rooms. The community centre will have shared use of the sports hall at the former Briset Primary School, which is now home to the borough's Pupil Referral Unit, and is immediately next door.

The building has been designed to ensure that it achieves a 'very good' energy rating, thanks to features including well-designed insulation and ventilation, a 'green' roof and recycling rainwater for use in the toilets.