Wokingham Borough Council has submitted plans for a new £1.8m Dinton Activity Centre that reflect public feedback from consultation and community drop-in sessions.
The centre’s design now includes Siberian larch cladding that weathers over time to blend in with the natural surroundings. The plans have also evolved to address concerns surrounding the appearance of the six large red windcatchers, now replaced with three smaller ones in a neutral grey.
In addition to the windcatchers, which avoid using mechanical ventilation, several eco-friendly features have also been added to support the Council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030. These include photovoltaic panels on the roof and air source heat pumps, which will significantly reduce the centre’s overall energy demand.
“It’s exciting to see us move one-step closer to our new Dinton Activity Centre. This is an incredibly important investment which will benefit residents across the Borough,” said Cllr Michael Firmager, deputy executive member for environment and leisure.
“We’ve listened carefully to people’s comments during our consultation and hope they will enjoy seeing their feedback reflected in our updated designs. It’s also encouraging to see so many green features added, which will support us on our journey to be carbon neutral.”
Alex Pullin, from HLM Architects, said: “From the onset of this project, we have been working closely with Wokingham Borough Council and local residents to develop a well-suited replacement for the Dinton Activity Centre, which is reflective of the community’s needs and requirements. Feedback from the ongoing consultations and drop-in sessions have helped to shape the final design of the new centre.”
Other changes include additional cycle parking spaces, which will be added to the lakeside of the building, along with Dragonfly artwork on the east and west sides of the building. The accessible changing room has been upgraded to a full ‘Changing Spaces’ facility.
Subject to planning, work is due to begin this summer aiming for the new centre to open in the autumn. The current Dinton Activity Centre will continue to operate as normal while the new centre is constructed.
Additional information:
- Two storey building cladded with Siberian larch
- State-of-the-art facilities
- Activity hall
- Coffee shop
- Viewing gallery
- Cycle parking
- 'Changing Spaces’ facility
- Three windcatchers
- Photovoltaic panels
- Air source heat pumps
You can view the plans and leave comments by visiting the website.
