The Sun, Moon and Stars Development Project

 (this page was started in September 2009 and will be extended on hearing of some definite news)

On September 4th a few 'options appraisal' reports, prepared by the BHBT, were distributed at the Heritage Day "Blisworth Past and Present" in the Village Hall.  It should be remembered that detail on the planning of the project had not been forthcoming for many months yet at that time, 5 weeks before the SNC were expected to announce a decision on how to proceed, a version of the report is made available.  It was edited in the sense that the detail was sparse (perhaps for the sake of its readability) and the details of the financial model constructed by TTP was couched in a section that was not publicly available.  It was stated there were three options (1). to sell the building on the open-market with a book loss of £200000 generated by the collapse in building valuation since the time of the CPO and wasted project work (2). to lease the building to a management firm whilst retaining asset ownership with SNC and (3). to leave the building with a beefed-up BHBT to be managed until finances develop to the point when the building could be sold without incurring a book loss.

The sudden release of the document left many wondering why on earth was there so much secrecy before then and why the document was released as a single document to the Parish Council (PC) with only one of their meetings scheduled before the SNC decision time.  It was stated that the details had been discussed at times as far back as two years ago but that was in terms of bland phrases such as "a space suitable for a bistro-type business"; no schematics, no numbers and no plans at all.  So, now in September there was, at least, a plan (that is reproduced in the diagram below) and an appended financial model for some to read.   Let's not forget, in terms of a filled-out architectural solution, there has been no public/village airing of this project.

[The decision was expected to be taken in the 14th September 2009 Cabinet meeting but was postponed - for a while
it was thought that, because alternative means of disposing the building were being considered, a decision would
be announced near Christmas 2009 . . . and so we wait]

The "New Sun, Moon and Stars" ground-floor plan included in the options appraisal document released on September 4th.

First reactions   First reactions to this plan include the feeling that the cafe/bistro space at 7m by 5m is small (there seems to be room only for about 25 seats at tables) yet the expected rental value is set in the financial summing up at £1000 pcm - which seems very optimistic, as that's an annual average, but maybe the guts of the financial model is not fragile!  The resource room and the meeting room may make sense especially knowing that a spacious cellar will be available for storage and even some office space.  Those rooms are quite small - do we seriously think the village will be able to make good use of them?  The rest of the building is set out to five small flats that will probably be handed over to Northamptonshire Homes - this is obviously where a robust revenue stream can be drawn, perhaps a gross of £30000 pa, and so the whole thing will be off the SNC books in no time at all!

Some comments on all this might be voiced at the Community Plan meetings on October 10th and 11th.  For example, would the layouts given below suit the village better - wouldn't they give the cafe/bistro a better chance?

Tony Marsh    September 8th, 2009

The historical events that have led up to this situation are summarised on this website.