Sorry for the lack of updates on our refurbishment project. Quite a lot has been happening over the last six months.

Mark Goodwill-Hodgson, our professional advisor, has obtained building regulations approval for the plans. He has also updated the detailed specification, put out an invitation to tender, and written a tender report from the results of that process. We’ve also been chasing quotations for the heating system and electrics.

There is some question about where we will put the new boilers. There are several reasons not to put them in the outhouse where the current boilers are so we are exploring alternatives.

We have now identified a preferred main contractor and we finally have a proper idea of how much the project is going to cost – just short of £140,000. It is a substantial sum but not far off what we had expected. And let’s remember that nothing is impossible for our God.

The last thing is that we have submitted a major grant application to the Garfield Weston Anniversary Fund. If successful this could cover most of the cost of the project. It’s very exciting to think that we are potentially not so very far from being able to start work.