B&E Boys are pleased to announce that work has begun on a major new project at Colne Municipal Hall. The start date was June 2023 and the project – valued at just under £1million – will run for 28 weeks. The completion date is set for December 2023. The re-opening of Colne Municipal Hall is a date for the diary – January 2024, just in time for the popular annual pantomime.
The work on behalf of our client, Pendle Borough Council with partners Pendle Leisure Trust and Liberata, involves a facelift an extensive refurbishment as well as re-roofing work, new windows and doors, soft strip and renewal of the internal finishes and decoration. Mechanical and electrical upgrades will also be undertaken. This will improve energy efficiency and deliver reduced carbon emissions. B&E Boys aim to use a local supply chain whenever possible as we firmly believe that this benefits the local community.
Colne Municipal Hall holds an important place in the local community. The Albert Road venue – affectionately known as ‘The Muni’ by locals – has suffered in recent years like many older theatre buildings due to under investment.
Now, as part of Colne’s newly formed Heritage Quarter, The Muni Theatre – along with Pendle Hippodrome and the Little Theatre – have received funding of £3,487,000 to refurbish, renovate and restore the prestigious venues not only to former glories, but also making them fit for the future.
Funding has been awarded from Round One of the government’s Levelling Up Fund. This new government initiative has already supported over 200 projects across the UK and the total funding available overall is set at £4.8billion. Levelling Up means different things in different areas – and bids can be made to support local landmarks, sport clubs, community hubs, and arts venues.
The Levelling Up agenda has a wide remit and is focused on creating opportunities for everyone across the UK. Whether that’s by improving jobs and living standards, making communities safer, investing in high streets and town centres, or investing in local amenities; it gives towns and cities across the country to fund projects that otherwise would have been impossible.
B&E Boys has a rich history of completing projects that benefit local communities and we see this as an important aspect of our work in general. Past work includes a £1.5million National Lottery-funded transformation of The Whitaker in Rawtenstall, and the restoration of St Mary’s Chambers in central Rawtenstall. If you have a project in mind, please get in touch.