Morland Community Hub receives planning 07.02.25

A new community building and associated landscape located in Highbridge for Sedgemoor Community Partnerships (SCP) has received planning permission from Burnham-On-Sea & Highbridge Town Council.

The Morland Community Hub comprises a community hall which is used by several community groups including the Food Bank, Luncheon Club, Brownies, Youth clubs, wellbeing clubs and many more for club meetings, events, workshops and various community projects. A separate workshop accommodates the wood working activities of SHED, based on the successful national Men’s Shed model where members come together to socialise and do practical work. The buildings that accommodate these various activities have become in constant need of repair and are no longer fit for purpose. Replacing these decaying structures with a new multi-use building will secure for the community, the long-term benefit that Morland Community Hub provides.

The SCP Trustees have a mission to create an accessible community focal point that provides a comfortable and welcoming venue for all with a much-needed programme of use. The new community building will meet the needs of the current users but will be flexible enough to accommodate a myriad of future user groups.

The building design places emphasis on sustainable design and construction, renewable energy and being contextually responsive. The external appearance of the building is presented as three (connected) buildings, expressed by their pitched roofs, clad in charred timber. Colour and natural timber will be used to accent particular features on the elevations, around window frame and entrance door reveals. To animate the elevations facing the street and approach, spaces for artwork will take the place of window openings.

In support of the Sedgemoor Community Partnership’s vision for the Morland Community Hub, AHMM along with Avalon, Arup, HT Ecology, Advanced Arboriculture and SLR have developed and prepared the planning application pro bono.