The building of a new village hall for Bilsthorpe can now start after plans were formally approved.
Bilsthorpe has been due a new village hall for the past couple of years.
The village’s old hall in Cross Street has been closed for nearly a decade due to ongoing maintenance issues and its limited facilities.
In 2022, the parish council approached Newark and Sherwood District Council to explore repair options, but officers found the existing hall unsuitable and recommended a new facility.
Plans for a full replacement hall, to be built on Crompton Road, were approved by the council in December 2025, but the formal go-ahead was given by the authority on 15 April, meaning building works can now get underway.
The project initially faced a shortfall of up to £1.3 million, and the council made available £1 million from its reserves, as well as £299,000 in developer contribution cash, to help fund the scheme.
The new hall will be built within Crompton Road Park, which includes a playground, a skatepark ramp, a half basketball court, an outdoor gym fitness trail, and a grass pitch with goals.
A café, playground, and sports court are also included in the plans.
The small village has been growing, with hundreds of new homes going through the council’s planning department in recent years.
A nearby resident, Mr Doug Mincher, wrote to the council in support of the project, saying the village has had “limited development” despite its population expanding and “lacks any modern facility for recreation or events”.
Other residents expressed their concern about the narrow access from Crompton Road due to parked cars, the nearby school entrance, and the wooden cladding of the building being a fire hazard.
One resident, Ms Christine Cooper, added the new hall would “take the heart away from the centre of the village”, where the old hall is more accessible by bus.
Council documents say: “The proposed development of a modern multi-use community hub on Crompton Road meets the needs of a growing and expanding community.
“This project will create a social and recreational hub that enhances community engagement, improves access to services, and provides much-needed space for local events and activities.”
