The former Toot and Whistle pub in Toothill has sat empty for a number of years, but work has now started on bringing it back into use by the community.
When Toothill was awarded a £1million share in Big Lottery £200m funding designated for 150 urban and rural neighbourhoods across England, the derelict building was the biggest priority for locals.
The steering group for the lottery funding, Toothill Big Local, acquired a 62-year lease on the site in 2019, but Covid-19 stalled any progress that was going to be made.
But in June 2021, invitations to tender for construction work were sent out, and the group has now revealed that the work will be starting shortly with an update on Facebook.
It said: "Toothill Big Local (TBL) is pleased to announce that a contractor has been appointed to carry out extensive renovation and upgrade work on the Village Tavern in the Toothill Village Centre.
"Preparatory activities are in progress, and on-site work will commence imminently.
"Further information will follow shortly on here and on the TBL website."
Plans show that the unused building will be turned into a Toothill Community Hub, with a number of artist impressions of what might be in store for locals once the renovation has finished.
The site will become home to a community-owned 'family pub' with post-tax profits being reinvested back into the Toothill community.
A chart detailing how the £1m has been spent so far was released by Toothill Big Local in May 2021,
It shows that the group has spent £468,296 on registering as a community interest company, acquiring the tavern on the 62-year lease including two year's ground rent, security and new fencing, surveys and designs for planning approval and construction tendering as well as administration, community events and consultations and its website.
Now that work has started it forecasts another £741,204 will be spent on appointing the contractor to regenerate the space as well as new heating, wifi, electrics, doors, and toilets and the installation of the family pub, kitchen, a defibrillator and children's areas.
Prior to this newly announced construction work. Some work has already been carried out at the site already. This includes the installation of a gate, cutting back of wild plants, bushes and trees and a general tidy-up.
Some consultations were also held in October, November and December 2021, with locals able to visit the nearby church to discuss plans.
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