May 8 2024

Options for the replacement of a rundown community hub in Peebles are being explored after its owners were hit by spiralling refurbishment costs to remove asbestos and dry rot from the 840sq/m facility.

Faced with an 'unsustainable' refurbishment bill of £1.4m, comparable to the £1.86m cost of a full replacement, Peebles Community Trust has chosen to bite the bullet and proceed with a design competition later in the year to develop a more long-term solution for the School Brae Hub.

Trust chairman Michael Ireland told the BBC: "We have invested a lot of public money in the existing building and I know that us now wanting to demolish it may be a problem for some people.

"While a lot of people will have emotional ties with the building, it isn't in keeping with the area, and our proposals provide the opportunity to have a building that does befit this conservation area."

An initial options appraisal by Stallan-Brand illustrating the different approaches that can be taken has already been drawn up, offering members a taste of what the future might hold. Preferred options include demolishing the existing building and its replacement with a purpose-built community building at a reduced scale to lower the overall project cost, including dedicated premises for the Men's Shed and Pipe Band.

At the other end of the scale, the potential to insert a substantial new 'hub' building is also being explored, including a central hall and small commercial units - although the Trust warns that the funding requirements for this are unrealistic. As a last resort, the site could also be fully cleared and opened up as a landscaped square connected to adjoining allotments, with the advantage that it would require no significant fundraising.

The options will be put to members at a special meeting later this spring before embarking on the design competition.

4 Comments

#1 Posted by Bari Reid on 8 May 2024 at 10:25 AM

Why the need for a design competition - why not just let Stallan Brand do the job?!
Clearly they know the job well and have worked with the Trust already - but instead they want a number of practices to waste a lot of hours inviting designs?
Who is advising them that a competition is going to give a better result than someone who has worked through feasibility options and understands the client?
No doubt they'll be overrun by entries too...

#2 Posted by Danny Boy on 8 May 2024 at 15:49 PM

Cracking visual of Scottish purgatory there. An overbright room, completely empty save for four spectral pipers playing you to the gates of heaven.

#3 Posted by Rob on 9 May 2024 at 09:42 AM

I was surprised to learn that this was a Stallan-Brand design. It isn't as strong or consistent with their overall portfolio work. Unfortunately, it appears that this one slipped through the net.

#4 Posted by Rankielass on 13 May 2024 at 10:18 AM

I hope they've got a bit more than £1.86 million

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