Calton Heritage & Learning Centre
Plans for the centre are being developed across different departments within Thenue including the Community Regeneration Team. Management of the facility will involve Calton Area Association in partnership with Thenue Housing.
Aims
Thenue Housing moved to purpose-built offices on London Road early in 2012. A commitment was made to the people of Calton that we would help them to convert our old building into a community facility that improves service provision in the area. Following feasibility work and consultation with local partners including Glasgow City Council there is a more viable option, a facility built as an extension to our new building. This is very much a work in progress with a project completion date some time in 2012.
The site of the extension reaches into a memorial garden to the victims of an industrial accident at the Templeton carpet factory in 1889. Calton was the centre of the weaving industry which was central to the growth of Glasgow as an industrial city. The proposed community facility therefore aims to promote and celebrate the area’s heritage as well as providing a hub for the people of the area to access services, particularly learning opportunities.
Budget / Finance
Estimates for capital costs to build the centre are in the region of £300,000, a very low figure compared to the estimate for upgrading Thenew’s existing building of £600,000. In addition the running costs would be much lower, minimising the risk of the centre failing.
Sustainability
As the proposed centre would be physically part of the new build offices of Thenue there will be much less risk of it failing. Running costs will be relatively small therefore the rent / hire charges for people using the centre as a base from which to deliver services will be low in comparison to the alternative.