Although the renovation of the Pavilion is not a Parish Council project, we thought we would update the village on what we know so far. We have had no updates from the Pavilion Steering Committee since March 2025.
The Pavilion Steering Committee (PSC) have approached all the key funders (including the Parish Council) to release the pledges of money so they can start the build. The aim of the PSC is to build the project in 3 phases. They hope to start phase 1 very shortly. Phase 1 will essentially remodel the entire building to provide a wind and watertight shell of the building, seen in the new plans. It will not include the interior fit out inside the building.
Plans Amended
The PSC have amended their plans to the first floor of the building, and the new planning application is available to view on the planning portal– see images below.
We are told by the PSC, that the new first floor will now accommodate groups of approximately 65 people.
Costs
We understand from the PSC that the successful contract bid for the main contractor was £684,000 + vat. We understand the PSC are working with the contractor to try and reduce those costs. We understand it is currently nearer £650,000 + vat. There are some additional costs, such as specialist Asbestos removal work and some additional professional costs.
Questions asked by the Parish Council
The Council have put a number of written questions to the PSC and received their responses. We can now publish those here along with a business plan provided by the group.
Questions & Answers Dec 24- Feb 25
The questions by the Parish Council are shown on black and green text. The answers by the PSC are in red and purple text.
Funding
We understand from the PSC that so far near to £435,000 has been raised in pledges and other fund raising/ funding. Further funding applications are being submitted to raise the full funds needed for the build.
Although the Parish Council has been asked, we have not agreed to release the £50,000 pledge made in May 2023 during the phase 1 stage. At the Parish Council meeting on 11 March 2025. the Council approved and adopted a motion, which sets out the conditions upon which the pledge will be released. The approved motion is set out here. (See the up/down arrows bottom left of the document for the second page)
Further updates
We will provide further updates as they become available.
Why the Pavilion is not a Parish Council Project
We understand many are confused as to the ownership of the Pavilion and don’t quite understand why this project is not a Parish Council project.
Although the land was conveyed to the Parish Council and is registered at the land registry in the Council’s name, the land was conveyed to the Council, subject to a formal Trust. The Trust created the village charity (the “Snettisham Memorial Village Hall“) that looks after the Memorial Hall, the recreation field and the Pavilion. All of those facilities are managed by the board of Trustees of the charity. It’s functions, finances and facilities are all independent of the Parish Council and the Council has no say in how the Trustees of the charity Operate. For more details on the charity and it’s purpose, finances and trustees, see Charity Commission
The Pavilion project is therefore a Memorial Hall project. To manage the project the Memorial Hall Trustees created the Pavilion Steering Committee.
