Introduction
The Bridewell was home to the Parish Office when Hampshire County Council offered The Bridewell, a registered Asset of Community Value, to the Parish Council. Following eighteen months of research, the freehold was transferred to the Parish Council in March 2022.
Odiham Parish Council agreed to accept the building and future liabilities with the belief that the building offered far greater potential than was previously being realised. It provided opportunity to preserve the building as a local asset and enhance its facilities for community use. A project to “transform The Bridewell into a thriving community hub” was established and delivery remains a key focus for the Council today, work which runs alongside the day-to-day management of the building.
The project aims are to:
- Provide the community with an alternative venue for hire,
- Accommodate outreach service provision to residents in a rural community,
- Maximise income to support running costs and support long term viability. This includes increasing room hires and creating a new co-working venue.
Future vision plans were developed and two business plans (to date) which set out a phased approach to aide external grant applications.
Latest Update March 2026
In 2025, the Council resolved “that the Council should not pursue the expansion of the first floor space, not least due to the challenges of servicing the needs of more than 30 people in the building at one time and the lack of parking in the immediate vicinity”. New priorities were agreed and, in March 2026, an architect was appointed to support the Council in obtaining listed buildings consent for the Plan of proposed layout agreed March 2026.
Other priorities include:
- Re-decoration, flooring and window dressings – this work is in progress.
- Upgrading lighting to energy efficient lighting – funding has been secured and work is expected to take place Spring 2026.
- Improved energy efficient heating – research is in progress and the reconfiguration of the courtyard area is expected to significantly reduce heat loss from the corridors surrounding the courtyard.
- Updating shelving in the Library Room to maximise floor space and enable improved heating.
- Repairing the building fabric including removal of render on the external walls – a quote has been sourced which is currently unaffordable.
- Ownership of the block paving area at front of building.
- Research for an alternative solution to provide access to the first floor that offers a more affordable solution.
Business Plans
The work is guided by the Council’s business plans, currently under Business Plan 2 as shown in the visual below.
Improvements to date
- A Hampshire County Council transitional grant in the value of £10,000 was used to set up the new voluntary led Odiham Book Exchange. The grant was used to purchase IT equipment, for the design of new branding and associated stationery and for training new volunteers. Odiham Book Exchange is now a registered community interest company and run entirely by a team of over 40 volunteers with over 600 members (more than the number of users of the former Hampshire County Council run library). The Book Exchange now rent the Library space and stock from the Parish Council through a user licence.
- Another Hampshire County Council grant in the value of £10,000 was used to repair rainwater goods and to rectify health and safety faults which were identified in a structural survey.
- New branding and signage was produced for The Bridewell Community Hub.
- Booking details for the Library Room were produced and the space is now available for hire. This included purchasing additional furniture and a new AV screen.
- A new toilet was installed to cater for the additional footfall.
- A further Hampshire County Council grant in the value of £10,000 paid for repairs to a structural wall to resolve damp issues. This was a very longstanding problem and it took time to find a suitable solution for such an old building which satisfied listed building consent.
- A grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund close to £6,000 funded the cost of upgrading an accessible toilet and fitting a RADAR key.
- Plans were drawn up to re-develop the first floor space into a new co-working space. A trial hot-desk period was offered while listed planning consent was being obtained. The full refurbishment was completed November 2024, thanks to a Lottery Grant and the new co-working facilities are open.
- A planning application has recently been submitted to Hart District Council for pre-application advice to seek feedback on the future vision plans. A meeting was held with Hart planning officers who provided opinion in a written report.
