Developing the Project …

Our backstory prior to start of works in November 2020 …

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Since the successful Round 1 award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund the Trust have been working with its appointed professional team Glevum Consulting Ltd (Project Management), Hugh Broughton Architects, Martin Ashley Architects and PT Projects (Cost consultant) to progress the project.

The architect team have been producing design plans for the completed building and have achieved planning permission and listed building consent.

Urgent Works to stabilise the building began at the end of November after the Trust were successfully awarded a grant of £199,000 by Historic England. Coniston Ltd were contracted to complete the work under the management of Martin Ashley Architects (MAA). A complex design of scaffolding was erected to stabilise the existing walls and a viewing platform erected to allow safe access to the building.

Virtual Reality

Hugh Broughton Architects have now developed a virtual reality fly through showing the proposed project as it is intended once complete.

This technology was first introduced to the project by Trustee, Chris Foulds with the intention to make this available for the community who will be able to view a V.R. tour of the proposed project, in the near future.

Funding

Fundraising has been continuing to take place. We have approached several Trusts and Foundations and individual donors. The response we have received has been outstanding culminating in pledges of over £2 million in matched funding towards our project.

Find out more about our partners here.

In addition to this the Trust has secured funding from the Arts Fund to transport, conserve and display the Great Dockyard model.

Funding

Fundraising has been continuing to take place. We have approached several Trusts and Foundations and individual donors. The response we have received has been outstanding culminating in pledges of over £2 million in matched funding towards our project.

Find out more about our partners here.

In addition to this the Trust has secured funding from the Arts Fund to transport, conserve and display the Great Dockyard model.

In December 2018 the Trust received the news that the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded the project a £4.2 million Round 2 pass which means that the project will now proceed with the necessary funding in place.

Project Development

The Trust had previously been working with the charity, Kent Youth Support Trust (KYST), to assist in working up an initial draft business plan for the operational aspect of the building, once it is open.

We are now in talks with an operating company working in partnership with a youth enterprise charity to work up the final plans for the management and operation of the building, as the project currently nears completion.

Next steps …..

Final Designs

The architect team continue to work on the final detailed design aspects of the project with particular attention now going toward the internal material choices and fit out . Earlier design work formed the basis of the tender package to contractors, with Coniston winning the contract for the construction work, which is now underway.

It is expected that the project will be complete and ready to operate by Spring 2023.

Interpretation

The Great Dockyard model has now been transferred from Fort Brockhurst, Gosport, with the trust now having ownership. Its new home, a storage facility in Lincolnshire, kindly offered from Alan Baxter, where it will stay until the church is ready to display it. Consideration is currently being given for some 3D scans to be taken, to help the architect team to better understand the best way to conserve and display it.

In December 2018 the Trust received the news that the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded the project a £4.2 million Round 2 pass.