Long Leys Community

A website for residents of the Long Leys area of Lincoln

Village Centre Project: Shop, Community Hub & Allotment Growing Centre

This page provides information on LLRA’s Community Right to Build Project

This is a 3-year project, to build a shop, community hub & allotment growing centre on Long Leys Road. If successful, the project will be the first in Lincoln to use Community Right to Build legislation under the Localism Act (2011).

Read October 2022 update – Frequently Asked Questions

Read September 2022 update.

Previous documents

Next Steps

The actions planned for the next few months are:

  • Mid-April: Grant application to Locality submitted
  • Summer: Grant funding available and professional Planning Consultant appointed
  • Autumn 2022: Face-to-face consultations with stakeholders begin, subject to suitable meeting location.

Briefing Sheets

LLRA will be publishing more detail on specific aspects of the project, as information becomes available.

Other Useful Information

Desired Timescales

Note: Subject to change.

2022

  • Monday 28 February
    • Initial project proposal approved and launched to Long Leys residents, allotment tenants and other stakeholders.
  • Remainder of 2022/Spring 2023
    • Community consultations covering both online and offline stakeholders.
    • Applying for grant funding from Locality to develop Community Right to Build Order (CRtBO) proposals in conjunction with a planning consultant. Set up a Community Interest Company (CIC).
    • Seeking suitable partner organisations to provide input into the specification for the allotment growing centre.
    • Selecting a suitable retail partner to jointly develop both concept and more detailed designs.
    • Developing detailed business plans for financing the build and operations.
    • Fund-raising activities including approaches to grant bodies.
    • Preparation of CRtBO by Long Leys volunteer resource supported by grant funding from Locality

2023

  • Summer 2023
    • CRtBO submitted to LPA for independent examination
  • Autumn 2023
    • Long Leys Plan Area residents vote on the project in a community referendum on same
  • Winter 2023
    • Subject to majority in referendum, request for consent sent to Secretary of State

2024

  • Summer 2024
    • Anticipated approval to proceed to financing and construction stage.
    • Construction starts.

2025

  • Summer 2025
    • Construction completes.
    • Kit out of buildings commences
  • Autumn 2025
    • Buildings operational.

Initial Outline Specifications

Note: Subject to change based on community consultations.

The site would incorporate separate shop and community centre buildings, with the community centre also linked to an allotment growing centre. All would have shared access and parking. Landscaping and tree planting would be used to provide a green frontage and screen nearby housing. A 3-metre width green corridor would be maintained to the south of the site, allowing continued access for wildlife moving to and from the east side of Long Leys Road to the allotments.

Retailer Requirements for Shop Area

Requirements are for 0.5 acres (2,000m2) for a general convenience store with a floor area of circa 400 m2, on Long Leys Road with easy access and visibility. The position on the west side of Long Leys Road helps commuters departing the city to make purchases on their way home. Staff from the hospital opposite would also have easy access.

  • 20 parking spaces + bicycle racks
  • Other facilities offered at convenience store:
    • Cashpoint
    • Car charging points
    • Benches and seating area
    • Water fountain
    • Top ups for electricity etc.

Community Centre Requirements

The requirement is for a main building with a floor area of 400 m2 which would accommodate most of the likely community uses. Possible facilities include:

  • Main hall size of 18 x 12 metres suitable for seating circa 120 people
  • Conference facilities
  • Smaller area for multi-use including meetings, pop-up shop facility e.g., for crafts, local produce, local fund-raising projects
  • Kitchen/Catering Facilities
  • Toilets, including externally accessible toilet available to allotment users
  • Area for coffee shop/small café, possibly with outdoor seating
  • Bar facilities, to support social activities
  • Stage with sound and lighting system
  • Storage room for clubs
  • Room for building services

The centre will be available to user groups on a pre-booked basis, for social functions and other uses on a private hire basis. It would also be available for community health initiatives and as a local polling station.

Allotment Growing Centre Requirements

To complement existing allotment growing activities close to the site, a separate structure to support community growing initiatives would also be constructed. Working with partner organisations LLRA would seek to incorporate the best elements and experiences from other successful allotment groups. Elements could include:

  • Tool store
  • Raised beds
  • Greenhouse of circa 100 m2.
  • Support for local school growing projects
  • Demonstrating emerging growing techniques such as hydroponic growing
  • Allowing allotment holders to share seeds, plants and produce
  • Germinate and advance seedlings, before they are planted out on the nearby allotments.

A potential partner has also suggested:

  • An agro-ecological market garden or small mixed farm, or possibly Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and a direct supplier of food to the shop and the wider city.