Work to transform Ulverston’s former mart into a vibrant community hub is set to start in the new year.
The community interest company bought the building on Victoria Road and its aim is to create The Spot, a new home for the Ulverston Food Project alongside a hireable hall, workshop space and rooms for support services.
It also had critical backing from CGP, the Broughton-based educational publishers.
Ulverston BID and Ulverston Town Council also supported The Spot with grants and 167 individuals raised over £5,300 via a Crowdfunder.
Zoe Mander, of The Old Mart Group CIC, said: “We’re so grateful to GSK for sharing its £2m fund between us and Ford Park.
“It means two local groups can get to work creating new spaces for Ulverston, which we desperately need after losing venues all over town from the Church Walk Parish Rooms to Lanternhouse.
“The Mart’s a great town centre building right next to our bus stops and a place that’s served as a hub for Ulverston for many years. First for sheep and cattle sales between 1878 and 1962, then for industry, housing Cumbria Crystal, Versatile Precision Tools and most recently DEL as a kitchen & bathroom showroom and workshop.
“GSK’s funding gives us the opportunity to look after this landmark Victorian building and give it a new lease of life serving Ulverston again as a place to meet, make and be… and with modern comforts this time like insulation and heating!”
The work is due to begin in January, removing the old industrial roof and replacing it to incorporate insulation and new rooflights.
The ambition is also to include solar panels to help run the building sustainably, including all of the Food Project’s refrigeration.
A planning application has just been submitted to Westmorland and Furness Council to cover the full refurbishment including new electrics, heating and the building’s change of use.
Mrs Mander added: “These are facilities that we hope will underpin a thriving hub, a place that supports people in need, helps people be healthy and well and enables all the creative goings-on that make our festival town such a brilliant place in which to live and work.
“The building will also look a lot better, replacing rotten windows and reviving the Victorian arched windows next to the Ulverston Brewery which have been partially boarded-up for too many years now.”
Spot volunteer Jennie Dennett said: “It’s going to be a huge amount of work to deliver this building project but we’re so happy to have got to this point.
“We want to thank GSK and the GSK Taskforce chaired by our MP Michelle Scrogham for the amazing support. Also High Winds and CGP who helped us clear the first hurdle of buying the building, alongside Ulverston BID and Ulverston Town Council as well as every one of the 167 people who supported our Crowdfunder.
“We’re getting ever closer to having a purpose-built space bought by the community, for the community.”
