The Village Halls Energy Project was awarded £500,000 from the CIL Climate Emergency Bonus Fund in June 2022. The project will identify and address areas of energy inefficiency and high carbon emissions in Village and Community Halls across Rother.

Village Halls provide extensive economic, social and cultural benefits to our communities, with Rother District Council’s ongoing commitment to protect them and provide new, extended or refurbished facilities reflected in our Core Strategy. Initial engagement with hall committees has identified that many are ageing or otherwise inefficient buildings with high energy usage and costs. The project seeks to protect their operational sustainability in the current volatile energy market and contribute to Rother’s Environment Strategy and District Net Zero target of 2030.

A consultant will first undertake energy assessments at each site and provide the halls with bespoke carbon Net Zero plans. Funds will then be distributed to address the highest areas of concern, as well as assistance being offered to halls to apply for additional funding and grants from local and national schemes.

In January 2023, LASER Energy were secured as the provider for the energy assessments, with the delivery of the Net Zero Plans expected by April 2023.

Halls that have been invited to participate in the project are charitable community facilities, including Village, Community & Memorial Halls and Community & Youth Centres, whose primary purpose is to provide a venue to their local community for economic, social and cultural purposes. Venues which have an alternative primary function, such as Scout/Guide huts, Sports Clubs and Church Halls, have not been included with an exception for halls in Parishes where there is no alternative community venue that qualified for the project.

The halls that have confirmed their participation in the project are:

If you have any queries regarding this project, please direct these to environment.strategy@rother.gov.uk