Landkey’s Mazzard Hall plan ripens after 20 years

Plans for a new community hall in Landkey have been given the green light after more than 20 years.

The Mazzard Hall proposed for the top of the Millennium Green off Harford Way has been on the village wish list for a long time and was identified as a ‘top priority’ for residents in a survey carried out in 2001.

Now North Devon Council planners have approved the scheme, which is expected to meet the demands of the growing community of 2,300 people and replace the outdated village hall on Blakes Hill Road.

The multi-use building will provide opportunities for local clubs, events and private functions.

The land is owned by Landkey Parish Council, which submitted the application and a long-term lease has been secured by Landkey Mazzard Hall Charitable Trust.

The scheme comprises a 481 square metre contemporary village hall and an 82 square metre storage building.

The Mazzard Hall will have a main hall and events space along with separate meeting rooms, an activity room, a bar and kitchen facilities. The building will be low carbon and there will be between 25 and 30 car parking spaces.

There was ‘overwhelmingly’ positive feedback about the plans at a public consultation event last year, planning documents say.

The principal of a new community facility on that land had already been established after developers and site owners Devonshire Homes were asked to make a contribution towards it when they secured planning consent for 77 homes in the village a decade ago.

When they built the homes they demolished the farm buildings which formerly occupied the site and left it to the parish council with the intention for it to be used for the community.

Over the last 50 years, Landkey had grown significantly and the current village hall was unable to meet the demands or capacity of the village or facilitate fully accessible and inclusive activities and events.

The design for the new hall has been changed several times and now features a central courtyard to mitigate noise and activities for neighbouring properties on Harford Way. Restrictions will apply to music events.

Funding is being sought for the construction of the hall.