Home Putting Melton First Saving the War Memorial Hospital Hill House Project Craven Lodge Messages & Support News Releases Clippings Archive Contact 28/08/2008 15:23 Hill House Project Hill House Project - Introduction A small voluntary organisation like Melton First can't ordinarily compete with the deep pockets of developers. Not only do developers understand and play the planning system, they also have exceedingly deep pockets. Melton First's money is different. We are reliant on grant funding and individual donations, and lengthy funding cycles mean those monies take time to come through. But once through they are ours, irrespective of fluctuating interest rates, the state of the Euro or the sale of other properties. In all likelihood it will be not the quality of our money but the amount we put on the table that will win us or lose us the War Memorial Hospital. The NHS is formidable, and an organisation whose guidelines on land sales are firmly documented in the NHS 'Estatecode'. The property has been put on the open market and despite lip service to the community, the NHS wants to achieve as near to open market value for the property as it is able. The type of development that's currently of greatest value? Housing. We knew that Melton First had to put together a great plan for the War Memorial Hospital site to have any chance of raising the necessary funding and persuading the PCT, local residents and politicians that we were serious about keeping the site for the community. And we believe we've achieved it! Melton First's Hill House Regional Design & Arts Centre has received an enthusiastic response from Melton Borough Council's Arts Officer. Katie Owens' comments centre on the cultural and creative economy being one of Leicestershire's four economic priorities, and she makes the following statements concerning the Hill House proposal; The development of a life long learning centre will enable more people to be involved in the arts and learn new arts skills The creation of studio and gallery space will nurture small, young, creative and cultural businesses The scheme will raise Melton's profile as a cultural and creative centre, contribute to tourism, regeneration and cultural, economic and social development Hill House Project is designed to reintroduce economic diversity and provide a sustainable future for Melton and its young people. But in addition to the remit that Melton First set itself, Hill House Project is also an enterprise that aims to put the heart back into our East Midlands market town. Also in this section: Hill House Project - Proposal... Hill House Project - Benefits... Hill House Project - proposed Site Plan... How you can help the Hill House Project... Read some of Melton First's many letters of support, and send us some of your own...! Melton First       -       From the Land to the Hand