Whitley Bay Community Eco Hub (coming soon)
From the old job centre building to 'community eco-hub'.
Refurbishment start November 2022.
Our new building will be sustainable with insulation, solar panels and renewable heating infrastructure. We hope it inspires people to be more environmentally conscious, whilst continuing to be used and enjoyed by the whole community. Download this update as pdf-document. If you would like to know more please contact us or send an email to hello@whitleybaybiglocal.org
At the end of 2022 we started by replacing the roof with a well insulated 'warm roof' allowing us to install a solar array with 60 PV panels, which has a capacity of a 23.1 kW. Even in February with the sun still very low in the sky, the PV array generates around 25 kWhs of energy each day, covering most of our electricity requirement.
A temporary entrance has been created to allow access to the first and second floors and provide space for the pantry.
We have also created a new activity room on the first floor, which is now available to hire. Ground floor activities have moved to the 2nd floor, ready for refurbishment work to start on the ground floor on 8th May and should be completed ready for re-opening in the first week of July.
Due to increasing costs and a limited budget we have had to re-think the original plans. The modified ground floor plan will provide a hub for community activities, social groups and a cafe, where residents can meet friends and family members to enjoy a drink and a snack.
With direct access into the garden, it will be a safe space to bring children and learn about the world around us. With access to a range of meeting rooms, studios and workspaces on the upper floors, the Eco-hub will be the perfect stop in for a coffee or to meet potential clients and business partners.
Providing access to secure and visible bike storage, and a workshop, the ground floor space will be a haven for cyclists, the perfect stop off point on the sustainable transport route from Tynemouth to Blyth.
With drop-in access every day, residents will be able to come and use the cafe, get advice and information to help with being more sustainable at home, or simply enjoy a coffee and a cake with friends.
The first floor is designed as a space for the arts and creativity, with studios, creative hotdesking space and large communal workspace, we have suitable options for a range of creative industries and activities. The first floor space could offer the flexibility needed for your next arts project.
Studios range in size from 12 SQM up to 16 SQM. Each will be supplied with hot and cold water and multiple electric points to allow for a range of creative pursuits. Studios are available on hourly, daily, weekly or monthly hires and will be priced reasonably. Each studio is lockable and out of hours access can be gained between 7AM and 23:00PM.
Workspace one multi-use as a breakout space, group workshops or creative workstations and is available on an hourly, daily or monthly hire.
With access to specialist facilities and equipment, the workspace could be the perfect option to meet other creative people and have the space needed to complete creative projects.
Workspace two, c 100 sqm offers a large space to work on large art-works or to collaborate on community arts projects. The space will be used by choirs,
community arts groups, life drawing, creative writing workshops, drama classes and more. With access to specialist equipment, Workspace 2 could
offer ther scope and flexibility for your community arts project.
Second Floor: With a range of offices and community spaces, each with access to the "Wintergarden', the second floor offers numerous options for office rental,
workspace hire or community hire.
Office 1 - 5: Accommodation is presented as five offices, available on short, medium or long-term rental. Spaces range from 12 - 22 SQM and are ideal for a range of purposes, such as therapy rooms, counselling services, office hire or meeting rooms.
Workspace 3: Available for hourly hire for a range of activities and workshops,
workspace 3 offers a large and airy space for a range of community uses
Wintergarden: The wintergarden is a semi enclosed growing space, offering meeting spaces and therapeutic gardening opportunities
