Plan to sell and re-use Warsop Town Hall amid calls for Mansfield Council to remove sell-on clause

Warsop Council has asked Mansfield Council to change clauses in the deeds of the town hall so it can sell off the building.

Warsop Council has been in talks with local charity group Lifespring Church and Centre after a 2021 public consultation narrowly recommended the authority find a new use for the 90-year-old building.

It followed funding problems at the parish council which meant council tax increases were not enough to fund the upkeep and repairs of the building.

The consultation of 250 people voted 126 for and 124 against reusing the building for other purposes.

Voters instead suggested the council should spend its money on outreach projects, community and business support and town centre improvements.

It led to negotiations about leaving the building or finding alternative uses for the town hall.

Warsop Council previously said it could make about £10,000 per year renting out its facilities to community groups.

But now new proposals – including a large business plan and improvements totalling £420,000 – could bring new life to the building.

Mansfield Council papers say the business plan outlines proposals to ‘protect, enhance and sustain’ the building by renovating it to a ‘good state of repair’.

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This would ‘increase growth and engagement’ across Warsop by offering ‘more accessible facilities’ with more ‘social regeneration activities’.

Space would also be provided for community groups currently using the building, while the town hall would become the main residence of Lifespring.

Lifespring, based in both Ollerton and Warsop, offers church services and community support like food banks and youth projects.

Warsop Council, which currently uses the building as its headquarters, would then rent space from the charity as and when it is needed.

However, papers confirm the plans hinge on the Mansfield Council removing clauses from the original deeds when the building was sold to the parish council in September 2010.

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This deal gave Mansfield Council a buy-back clause of £1 if the building ceased to be used for community purposes, or a sell-on clause of £165,000 – the value of the building at the time – if it was to be sold on.

However, Warsop Council is now asking the Labour-run district authority to remove both clauses so the new changes can be implemented.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service attempted to contact Warsop Council for further information but could not reach anybody.

However, council meeting minutes from June this year, said: “The removal of the clauses is vital and needs to be done as quickly as possible.”

Mansfield Council will take a delegated decision on Friday, October 6 where the clauses are recommended for removal so the changes can come forward.

In a report, Mansfield Council added: “In view of the proposed transfer to Lifespring Church and Centre, it is considered in the best interest of the local community to preserve the asset for community use rather than exercise the option to buy back.

“It is appropriate to waive the pre-emption restrictions and allow the parish council to dispose of the property to Lifespring Church and Centre to secure its ongoing community use for the benefit of the Warsop community.”