Sandown Town Hall restoration work nears completion

The restoration of Sandown Town Hall nears completion as Joe Robertson MP recently visited to see progress being made to bring the historic building back into community use.

In 2023, it was announced that the Isle of Wight Council had secured £3.1 million in funding through the UK Government’s Youth Investment Fund which would go towards both the restoration work and the creation of a youth programme.

Aiming to open for the autumn term, the programme will serve over 200 young people per week, with activities such as sports and study sessions and access to a sound studio for music practice being made available.

An extensive programme of structural and cosmetic repairs and reconfiguration work has been delivered by Island business MCM Construction, including repairs to the historic ceiling in the hall, new electrics and plumbing, a change in the configuration of the rooms to the entrance to include a reception, new toilet facilities at the front of the hall and underpinning work to the right-hand side of the structure.

Work has also been done to replace the roof and repair the supporting structure, as well as a modern renovation of the lower ground floor youth hub area, including reconfiguration of the area to create more usable spaces and a lobby for the new lift. 

The Isle of Wight Council has been working closely with architects and project managers at ERMC and consulting with Community Action Isle of Wight and the Bay Youth Forum to share detailed progress and get their feedback on proposed usage and finishes.

Councillor Joe Robertson, MP for Isle of Wight East, said: “It was good to have a tour of Sandown Town Hall recently and see how much work has been done to bring it back into use for the local community.

“The funding received from the UK government's Youth Investment Fund in August 2023 has allowed the Isle of Wight Council to reimagine the space that puts young people and the Sandown community at its very heart.

“I look forward to visiting again soon when it is a hive of activity."

Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, chair of the Economy, Regeneration, Transport and Infrastructure committee said: "An important part of our corporate plan is bringing derelict buildings back into use and starting with our own building in Sandown was important to me.

“The state of the building and it's listed status meant that previous plans were unviable, so the chance of YIF investment for our young people was something we jumped at.

“Seeing this civic building brought back into public use, by local contractors and our council team is just fantastic and I hope we can continue on the journey of investment into our built environment across the Island."

Sandown Councillor Ian Ward, deputy chair of the Economy, Regeneration, Transport and Infrastructure committee said: “It’s really good to see the town hall brought back to life by the Isle of Wight Council. I'm sure it will be a first-class venue for lots of activities in the future.”

Mayor of Sandown Town Council Alex Lightfoot said: “It’s fantastic news that the renovation of this historic building is nearing completion and will see a new lease of life.”

“The town council is hugely supportive of the project and will continue to support the Bay Youth Project moving forwards.”

Laura Cansdale, Regeneration Programme Manager for the Isle of Wight Council said: “The transformation of Sandown Town Hall from a derelict building into what will soon be a vibrant, fit-for-purpose youth and community centre is a shining example of place-based regeneration in action.

“This project embodies the spirit of the Bay Area Place Plan; revitalising our shared spaces, empowering local voices, and investing in the future of the Bay.

“This is a powerful step forward for our community in creating a more connected, resilient Bay area.”