Find the full planning application documents online here
BACKGROUND
The John Peel Centre for Creative Arts (JPC) is a volunteer led arts venue that provides a home for original live music, poetry, theatre and dance in Stowmarket, Suffolk.
We propose a restoration and re-connection project to unify 11 Market Place (the old Nat West Bank) with the former Corn Exchange in Stowmarket, reinstating the historic link between two treasured buildings, whilst developing a landmark community asset for the town of Stowmarket.
By sensitively restoring the former banking hall on market square and the first-floor Victorian ballroom, this exciting project will enable the John Peel Centre (JPC) to build on its success and reach its full potential. Significantly increasing opportunities for volunteer positions and job creation, the project will increase current JPC performance space capacity from 240 to 300, and ultimately deliver a muti-use, muti-room venue with the addition of a 100-capacity ballroom and a 50-capacity café/bar and community space. Further opportunities will open to revive the town centre with outdoor eating and a pop-up performance space on the market place.
Providing room for the programming of both large-scale and more intimate events; whilst increasing access for many to the arts, this project will maximise the JPC’s ability to develop further diversity in programming, as well as reconnecting the community with a beautiful historic building, and helping make a rural market town more vibrant and economically resilient.
The John Peel Centre bears the name of a man loved by people of all generations, renowned for encouraging new music and giving support to many local initiatives. The centre continues to develop its goal of encouraging members of the community to enjoy the benefits of pursuing their own artistic endeavours and supporting the efforts of others.
This project to reconnect the old bank building and the old Corn Exchange (now the John Peel Centre) will create a wider range of possibilities for all types of performing arts.
The works under consideration in this project include the following items listed in no order of preference, from an envisaged package of work to be implemented as funding becomes available. The building is Grade II Listed and most of the works will require Listed Building Consent. The items currently envisaged are:
- Creation of a new stage area and a proscenium arch front by opening an existing wall between the Centre and the old bank. Moving the main part of the stage back like this will increase the capacity of the hall and provide greater flexibility for performers.
- A new route connecting the main hall space with the old bank building and the installation of a wheelchair accessible lift to enable inclusive access to the upper floor. The link corridor will run all the way through to a new Market Place entrance in the position of an historic entrance to the Corn Exchange (See 1944 photo right side).
- The existing kitchen area is to be refitted under separate specialist contract to enhance the catering range of the café/bar and an improved staff cloakroom and wc area will be formed. A new customer wc will also be installed adding to the overall total of wcs in the building.
- A new fire resisting partition will then separate the café/bar from the basement stairs to provide a protected means of escape from the basement.
- A landing platform will be formed in the existing space between the original John Peel Centre and the bank building, and this will also form part of a new fire escape route leading to a new external escape stairway in the side yard to the Centre.
- Existing first floor wcs will be remodelled and an additional accessible wc will be introduced.
- A wheelchair refuge space will be provided by inserting a section of floor within the void space adjacent to the main stairs opening to the staircase with fire resisting construction.
- Two new fire doors and partitions are proposed on the existing upper floor landing to protect the means of escape route from the restored ballroom and provide two optional routes out in the event of a fire.
- A new fire door opening is proposed in the ballroom east wall to provide an alternative emergency escape route out of the ballroom and the existing Green Room door to be upgraded or replaced to form a Fire Resisting door.
- Existing partitions forming two offices within the ballroom are to be removed and as far as possible, the ballroom will be restored to its original state.
- A new office above the stage left area will be installed.
- Secondary glazing to retained windows to improve the energy use levels, subject to obtaining sufficient funding.
OUTCOMES
The proposed alterations to the original hall and stage area will increase the JPC main hall capacity from 240 to 300 and together with the additional spaces available in 11 Market Place the centre will become a multi-use-multi room venue able to deliver a diverse programme of events. The adaptation of 11 Market Place will mean that the centre remains inclusive and its frontage onto Market Place offers opportunities to engage more fully with the local community. There are already pop-up performances that take place on Market Place when weather permits.
The restored ballroom provides a venue for smaller, more intimate acts as well as being a multi-use space able to accommodate arts and crafts groups, rehearsals, meetings etc.
On the ground floor of No.11, there is already a functioning café/bar serving up to 50 covers and this also doubles as a community space and performance space for suitable acts.
Lastly, in the basement of No.11 it is proposed that the existing vault be adapted to function as a recording studio, with acoustically lined walls and improved ventilation, this space will be a welcome addition to the range of facilities that the centre can offer.
The remainder of the basement will function as a beer cellar, and general services area. It is intended that the goods lift that rises to the ground floor in a dome topped enclosure be retained, repaired and brought back into use for moving equipment. This is subject to specialist review to ensure its viability.
The proposed works will enable a wider range of uses and it is anticipated that increased staff and volunteer numbers will be necessary to manage the centre.
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
The sustainability strategy for this project is primarily focused on efficient servicing using renewable and/or low carbon solutions.
The proposals involve a comprehensive review and re-working of the mechanical and electrical services to 11 Market Place including:
Heat pump led heating and part-cooling system, with air sourced heat pumps located discreetly on the flat roof area between the two buildings.
Existing lighting will be almost totally replaced with LED lighting to suit new uses of spaces and retained fittings will be replaced with LED equivalents.
Where practical the fabric of the old building will have upgraded insulation (e.g. loft space) and subject to funding and Planning consent, additional solar panels will be installed on the JPC roof to supply 11 Market Place.
ACCESS
This Listed bank building is to be directly linked to the existing John Peel Centre and the design proposal seeks to make minimal detrimental effect upon the existing centre. The means of escape of the current centre will be maintained. The escape doors to the south of the main hall will be replaced with doors configured to ensure that the means of escape continues to function adequately.
The addition of another accessible wc at first floor means that there will be three in total in the building and the new lift will mean that both areas of first floor accommodation will be accessible.
New ramped sections of floor will be inserted to accommodate level differences in the connecting route between the two buildings.
The new Market Place entrance will have a level threshold meaning that both main entrances will be wheelchair accessible, and the internal works and colour schemes will be designed to meet current Building Regulations for accessibility, including provision of a wheelchair refuge at first floor and provision to assist those with partial sight and/or hearing impediments.
CONCLUSION
This community-based project is focussed on providing a greater range of performing arts activities to take place in the expanded facilities made possible by the acquisition of the old Bank building.
Since it was first established the John Peel Centre has brought new life to the redundant Cornhall building and established its valued role in the local community by championing and celebrating music, art and artists. The expanded facilities will enable it to further the aims of protecting and supporting the future development of live music and performance.
The range of spaces available through this adaptation work will boost the social value of the centre and give it a presence on Market Place that is already helping to revitalise the space through outdoor eating and pop-up performance space. This greater engagement with the local community through a physical presence on the Market Place will be of benefit in helping to make the town more vibrant and economically resilient.
The proposed works include some alterations to the Listed Building and in many cases the undoing of some ill-considered interventions in its history. These alterations have been sensitively considered to cause minimal damage to the original building and the enhancement of the café/ and ballroom spaces, whilst enabling an expanded range of activities in the restored premises.
We have received advice through the pre-application process and sought to create proposals that develop the centre in a manner that is sensitive to the heritage of the building whilst also seeking a sustainable, long-term future for it through ongoing active and creative use and public access.
