£600,000 community projects tops strong year for Ashfield

A £630,000 community project in north Leeds has topped a strong year for Ashefield Building Group.

The new community centre owned by the Older People’s Action in the Locality charity has opened its doors after extensive renovations and redevelopment by Ashfield at the former pub.

The firm worked with LEDA, a Leeds firm of architects and engineers specialising in sustainable buildings, gutting the pub building to create a new cafe space for the charity, as well as a drop-in advice centre, offices and space for community hire.

Ailsa Rhodes, OPAL project co-ordinator, who worked closely with Ashfield Building Group and LEDA, said: “They cared about what we wanted this project to achieve and that’s made a real difference in helping us to manage the build programme and any challenges we faced in making the space work as effectively as possible.”

“For us to have our own base to run from is going to be great and make a real difference to what we can do,” said Rhodes.

“Although OPAL is for older people, the area is lacking facilities for all ages and our ambition is to open up to other groups and community users, bringing people together from across the generations to share the space.”

The centre is the second project in Leeds that Ashfield Building Group has completed for clients in the third sector, having also worked on the ANSA Clubhouse scheme in Yeadon on behalf of the AVSED charity, which supports older people to live independently.

Yeadon-based Ashfield Building Group, also carries out commercial work including renovation and refurbishment of offices, clubs and sporting venues and remodelling factory premises.

Ashfield Building Group managing director Brendon Quinlan said: “Our portfolio has expanded steadily over the last 12 months and we’ve enjoyed a strong start to 2017.

“We take knowledge from project to project and this helps in building a collaborative relationship with property owners and architects. Creating new community space is a good example of how working together produces great finished buildings.”

Jonathan Lindh, co-founder and director of LEDA, said: “This project has resulted in a highly satisfied client thanks to the continual attention to detail from Ashfield to ensure that the job ran as smoothly as possible. This was aided by a strong sense of teamwork shared by all and a clear vision from OPAL of what they wanted to achieve.”

A second stage of development for the Welcome In building will add more space to generate new income alongside revenue from the café to support OPAL’s work. This includes two activity rooms, a therapy suite for natural healing and meeting rooms as well as a garden and improved car parking.

OPAL is hoping to secure the estimated £280,000 to complete the community centre with grants, support from charitable trusts and continued fundraising and has set up a donation page on the Localgiving website https://localgiving.org/charity/opal/