You may have already heard the news but One Knowsley has received an asset transfer of Court Hey courtyard and buildings from Knowsley Borough Council. This will be fantastic for our sector made up of Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprises (VCFSE), for the local residents and beyond to the whole of the Knowsley Borough.
We, along with all of our key stakeholders, will be leading significant investment into the refurbishment of the two buildings to drastically contribute to the ambition within the borough to improve its green credentials.
As well as new headquarters for us, the buildings and grounds, will be used for activity to support, develop and deliver the activities of the VCFSE sector within the borough, by creating a resource for local residents and the wider population. We’re going to lead the renaissance of the site with the establishment of vibrant community hub with real economic impact and green credentials.
After a period of growth for One Knowsley and building on the impact of our work and role within the borough, Court Hey Courtyard offers a fantastic opportunity to not only meet the growing needs of our workforce but to meet the needs of the wider sector we support and act as the trusted voice for.
Our vision is to create a vibrant new hub for community events and social activities, and a place for the people of Knowsley to be proud of. We are committed to developing a plan for the site over the coming months, one that includes our stakeholders and the local community who it will serve. It is incredibly important that they are involved in the process.
We are also keen to protect the history of the Court Hey Park site and its biodiversity, which can be traced back to the late 1780’s. The charity will be making several nods to the site’s past, including its life as the National Wildflower Centre, working with Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Knowsley Council to explore the rich heritage and create a lasting legacy for the local community.
Court Hey Park will boast a new heating system and LED lighting set throughout, along with solar panels fitted to the roof. Our investment in reducing its carbon footprint will reduce the annual energy consumption of its buildings by approximately 180,000 Kwh per annum, a saving at 2020 prices of £25,000.
Special Thanks goes to Knowsley Council and Livv Investment for their support with the asset transfer and we’re looking forward to working closely with our stakeholders to fulfil our ambitions for an exemplar in green recovery from the Covid pandemic.
