Decision details

Gloucester City Council to make a grant contribution of £35,000 towards the Discover DeCrypt regeneration project, specifically for a new kitchen, ground floor coffee point and sink, downstairs toilet upgrade, wheelchair accessibility and associated services.

The Discover DeCrypt regeneration project seeks to bring both the Church of St Mary de Crypt and the adjoining Old Crypt Schoolrooms into active use for the purposes of worship, community activities, the arts, culture and for learning opportunities. The delivery of heritage projects such as this are specifically identified in Objective 2- a Vibrant City Centre- of the Regeneration & Economic Development Strategy 2016-2021.

The works comprise a 12 month programme that began back in March 2018. These improvement works are various across both sites but include general essential repairs, improved access (including a new lift and staircase) from the church, floor replacement, removal of timber columns, addressing of damp, external repairs to the building façade and an overhaul to the interior layout of the schoolroom.

The project has been funded through significant contributions from a number of key partners. £1.36m of Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) was successfully secured by the Discover DeCrypt team. The funding was secured for essential conservation works, the development of a cultural project to raise the profile of the Church and its history, and the creation of a new cultural space that would see the site brought back into active use.

The City Council previously contributed £12,000 towards the development and implementation stages of the Discover DeCrypt HLF bid in 2013 from the City Centre Historic Area Grant scheme.

In addition to this, the project has also engaged a broad range of local stakeholders for financial support. Charitable gifts, funds from the Gloucester Environmental Trust and the Gloucester Diocese, and a range of other funding sources have been secured to ensure the full cost of the project (£2,066,000) is accounted for. Fundraising is ongoing to ensure repayment of loans can be achieved; but a financial contribution from the City Council in the form of a grant will ensure the project reaches its total funding goal, and will complement what is already very significant investment

This Decision Notice makes a grant contribution of £35,000 towards the Discover DeCrypt project, specifically to cover the cost of the first-floor kitchenette and ground floor facilities of the Old Crypt Schoolroom. This breakdowns as:

• £10,000 for the new kitchen
• £7,000 for a new ground-floor coffee point and sink
• £4,500 for upgrading the downstairs toilet and associated fittings
• £4,500 to form a wheelchair accessible doorway to the kitchen
• £2,000 provisional allowance for connections
• £7,000 towards associated costs for the above

This scheme compliments both the Project Pilgrim scheme at Gloucester Cathedral and the regeneration of Llanthony Secunda Priory; both of which also received funding from the HLF. Our funding contribution to these schemes and this subsequent financial support for the Discover DeCrypt project demonstrates an acknowledgement of the role heritage has in regenerating the City.

The grant will be funded from the City Council’s Regeneration Fund.

Do nothing: the Discover DeCrypt project and its success responds to Objective 3 of the Regeneration and Economic Development Strategy 2016-2021 relating to small sites development. It recognises the full potential of the City’s regeneration drive can only be realised through revitalising those buildings which don’t contribute to the prosperity of environment of the City through their current state.

Our financial contribution will help to ensure the project is fully funded and therefore help deliver a small site in a priority location.

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