Green Britain Centre negotiations will continue if site is 'fit for purpose' as coronavirus halts process
Negotiations surrounding the future of Swaffham's Green Britain Centre have been put on hold due to the coronavirus after concerns had been expressed over the building being dilapidated.
A land swap between Breckland Council and Swaffham Town Council is being considered in which the latter would take on the Turbine Way site in exchange for the the Days Field site on New Sporle Road.
Town clerk Richard Bishop said any future discussions would be moved forward on the provision that the Green Britain Centre is "fit for purpose".
The minutes from an extraordinary town council meeting last month state the building would need to be suitable for commercial clients to take a lease for occupation "without additional financial obligation" on the council, understood to be arising from dilapidation.
Fears have been expressed over the state of the Green Britain Centre, which was deemed unprofitable in June 2018 by the The Green Britain Foundation charity.
But the town council stated a desire to turn the Green Britain Centre on Turbine Way into a hub for a range of local services after it was announced as the frontrunner to take over the building in November following an application process.
A source close to the process said: “Surveyors and consultants, to date, seem to suggest that the deterioration is alarmingly pertinent, with worrying renovation costs.”
However, Mr Bishop and Swaffham's mayor Jill Skinner have said further steps have been put on hold due to the coronavirus.
"It is expected that there would be no further discussion whilst both Breckland Council and Swaffham Town Council give their support to the Community Response Team during the Covid-19 pandemic period," Mr Bishop said.
Mrs Skinner added: "Because we are in the process of doing due diligence, where our negotiations of the Green Britain Centre is concerned, it’s only right that have full knowledge of what we would be taking on.
"However, due to the immediate circumstances that we face, this will be put on hold until we are back to working normality."
During a town council extraordinary meeting last month, town councillor Judy Anscombe proposed to authorise a nominated working group to continue consultation and negotiation on behalf of the council.
This was with "an intent to make the proposed asset swap a viable and affordable proposition for the community of Swaffham".
Breckland Council has said it is working with Swaffham Town Council to achieve their aims for the Green Britain Centre “as soon as possible”.
A Breckland spokesman said: “The town council are working on developing a viable solution for the Green Britain Centre, which we are supporting.
“We understand the town council are still undertaking their due diligence related to their proposal. This may have understandably slowed down due to Covid-19.”
