Major milestone for Dartmoor village as construction of new community hall gets underway

Building work has begun on a new community hall in Widecombe-in-the-Moor, marking a major milestone after several years of planning, fundraising and volunteer effort.

The project is being led by Widecombe Community Hall CIO, a charity set up following a detailed ‘feasibility study’ which found strong local support for a new, accessible village hall to replace existing facilities.

Land for the building was donated in the centre of the village, within the Dartmoor National Park. 

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Planning permission was granted in 2020 with unanimous backing from National Park Authority members. 

Since then, volunteers have carried out extensive work on site, including creating a new access and completing drainage and groundworks.

The new hall is being designed to meet Passivhaus standards, with solar panels and electric vehicle charging points to reduce energy use and running costs. 

Plans include a large main hall, a separate multi-use room, a kitchen, and an outdoor garden area for events and overflow space.

ABOVE: An architect's impression of the hall (Image: Widecombe Community Hall CIO)

The project has recently received £75,000 in funding from Teignbridge District Council and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs through the Rural England Prosperity Fund. 

Teignbridge District Council says the grant will allow contractors to complete the current phase of work, which aims to deliver a watertight building by the end of March 2026.

Local fundraising events have raised £68,000 so far, alongside a significant bequest and other donations, and, together with the grant funding, this has enabled construction to begin.

Trustee Chris explained how funding for the project has worked so far and how the hall will continue to be financed.

“The first phase has been largely completed by volunteers and has cost about £65,000. This includes the set-up of the charity, extensive feasibility study, project design and planning permission completion, site access creation, significant groundworks to drain and level the field & mains power connection. 

ABOVE: A pie-chart indicating how Phase 1 was funded (Image: Widecombe Community Hall CIO)

“We can now hand over the site to contractors for Phase 2, which will cost around £400,000. A further £250,000 should see the project coming to completion.

The new hall is set to be ‘fit for the 21st century’, with accessibility and energy efficiency as priorities. 

Trustees have said the hall will be “safe, cost effective, warm and comfortable, large enough for big gatherings or small meetings and will make existing groups accessible to a wider range of people, including those with mobility needs”.

Yvette Elliott, Chair of trustees, said: “There has been so much hard work from a multitude of volunteers and supporters over the last few years to reach this point. 

“Our successful application for funds from Teignbridge and DEFRA has suddenly propelled the project forward.”

She added that further funding will still be needed to complete the building, including internal fittings and landscaping.

Once finished, the hall is expected to provide a focal point for the wide rural parish, hosting community, recreational, cultural and health activities.