A £1.5M BID to transform the ageing heart of a former naval school near Clanfield has moved a step closer to becoming a reality.
Bosses at the Sustainability Centre want to breathe new life into the remains of HMS Mercury by transforming a former medical block into a learning centre.
They want the facility to become a “green beacon of learning” with the block being expanded and retrofitted to include a host of energy-saving and eco-friendly measures.
The building will become a turf-lined dome containing an extra classroom, enlarged cafe and two-storey atrium should early plans come to fruition.
The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has given the ambitious project a boost by awarding a £7,887 grant to meet the costs of a feasibility study.
“We are hoping to do an eco-retrofit so this feasibility study will help us make an informed decision of what’s possible,” said the centre’s fundraiser, Marianne Bergesen.
“There were some concept designs we released last year and they were very evocative. But at that point we didn’t know what was possible but now the funding is available to carry out a feasibility study we’ll be able to get a professional view.”
A ‘Leaves for Learning’ fundraising campaign has also been launched with schools, community groups, firms and the public being encouraged to buy a handmade ceramic leaf in support of the development.
The personalised leaves will become part of a sculpture outside the centre with prices for the green, bronze, silver and gold options starting at £10, £50, £250 and £500, respectively.
The ‘Transformation Project’ was unveiled last year to coincide with a 20-year milestone as the Sustainability Centre opened its doors for the first time in 1995.
For more details about the campaign visit www.sustainability-centre.org