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Churches put their faith in architect's good works for congregations and other users!

Churches put their faith in architect's good works for congregations and other users!

A Long Eaton architect is counting his blessings after carrying out design work on two buildings for different churches.

In each case the work done by chartered architect Alan McGowan enabled the churches to receive grants for the projects.

The Hope Church in Nottingham received a total of £665,000 from the Big Lottery Fund for the scheme to transform the former Roundabout youth and community centre on Southchurch Drive, Clifton.

The building will be open seven days a week because as well as being used by the church,  it will be used by Rise as a day club for elderly people,  Derby-headquartered Enthusiasm Trust which helps children and young people, and the NG11 foodbank.

Alan helped put together the Lottery bid and secure planning permission for the building, which had been empty for years.

Construction work will begin in the spring ready for the building to be used in the autumn.

It will have a mezzanine floor added to provide more space and offices. The rest of the work will mainly be refurbishment, including new cladding and windows.

“Because of the Lottery funding and the church's desire for sustainability we are aiming to incorporate high standards of insulation and heating to make the building as green as possible,” said Alan.

The other church is Long Eaton United Reformed Church on Nottingham Road, Long Eaton, near The Green. It is only 200 yards from Alan's new offices in Bridge House business centre on Derby Road, created by enterprise agency Erewash Partnership.

The church was awarded a £25,000 grant from Biffa under the landfill tax scheme. The work will include an extension to provide better facilities, including access and toilets for disabled people. The building is also regularly used by other organisations.

Alan secured what had been a previous conditional grant for the work, which will start in the new year..

Alan's work can be seen on buildings in Long Eaton's townscape heritage initiative, funded by English Heritage, to restore old buildings back to their former glory. He has also been involved with sports pavilions as well as residential and commercial work.

But this was the first time he had been involved in work on churches. “Now I'm praying for more,” he added.


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