The meeting of the Ashbourne Reborn Programme Board on 06 December 2024 was scheduled to receive an update on the Ashbourne Reborn Programme, including progress on the recent submission of a Project Adjustment Request (PAR) to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (MHCLG). The report pack also included the minutes of previous meetings and an update on the expenditure relating to the project.

Ashbourne Reborn Programme Update

The Ashbourne Reborn Programme Board was provided with an update on the Ashbourne Reborn Programme, a £15.9 million programme that aims to transform Ashbourne town centre.

The programme has two main projects, the Public Realm & Highways Improvements project and the Link Community Hub Project.

The Public Realm & Highways Improvements project is led by Derbyshire County Council, and has a budget of £8.8m.

The Link Community Hub project is led by Ashbourne Methodist Church. The project has a budget of £7.1m and will provide a new community hub for the town.

Link Community Hub Project

The report pack says that the preparatory work for the Link Community Hub project has been completed.

The preparatory work conducted by volunteers and some direct orders has been completed. This included removal of asbestos by specialist contractors, stripping out the old boilers, removing the downstairs pews, salvaging the courtyard paving slabs for reuse in the community garden, sheeting up the organ pipes, and removing the grand piano and organ console to storage.

The main contractor, Messenger Construction Ltd, began work on 11 November 2024. The report pack says that the contract for the project is scheduled to be signed in mid-December 2024.

The report pack states that the total cost of the project is now £7.1 million, with Ashbourne Methodist Church increasing their financial commitment from £1.4 million to £2.1 million.

Highways and Public Realm Project

The report pack says that the majority of the design work for the Highways and Public Realm project has been completed. The report states that the main works will begin in January 2025, with an expected completion date of December 2025.

The report pack says that preparatory works, such as setting up the compound at Fishpond Meadow, will continue over December 2024.

The report pack notes that the project has been impacted by the need to bring forward a programme of utilities works in advance of the Ashbourne Reborn improvements.

The report pack states that indicative traffic management plans have been developed by Derbyshire County Council and the main contractor, Galliford Try. The report pack states that final sign-off of the plans by Derbyshire County Council is expected in the near future.

The report pack notes that the raising of the parapet on Henmore Bridge has been completed.

MHCLG Information and Processes

The report pack says that a Project Adjustment Request was formally submitted to the MHCLG on 8 November 2024. The report pack states that approval of the changes was received from the MHCLG on 22 November 2024.

The report pack states that the finalised Quarterly Monitoring Return is to be submitted to the MHCLG on 29 November 2024.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The report pack included the minutes of the previous meetings of the Ashbourne Reborn Programme Board, which was held on 22 October 2024, and the minutes of the Highways and Public Realm Project Control Board, and the Link Community Hub Project Board which were both held on 01 October 2024.

Appendix 3

The report pack includes a summary of the agreed expenditure profile for the Ashbourne Reborn Programme.

The report pack says that the total cost of the programme is £15,923,662.96. Of this, £13,373,509 is being provided by the Levelling Up Fund, and £2,550,153.96 by match funding.

The report pack states that the majority of the funding for the project will be spent in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years.