Church group take over historical community venue

Harpenden Public Halls provided an entertainment venue in the town for decades

A community venue is due to be taken over by a church after plans for its redevelopment were scrapped.

Harpenden Public Halls would be sold to ChristChurch Harpenden (CCH) after a deal for its sale was agreed, St Albans City and District Council said.

It followed a failed transformation scheme in the Hertfordshire town that would have seen 29 homes built at the site.

Lib Dem council leader Paul de Kort said the "substantial sum" received for the venue would benefit residents.

CCH attracted more than 300 people to its congregations on Sunday mornings, the council said.

It would breathe new life into the halls, which were replaced as an entertainment venue by the Eric Morecambe Centre in October 2021.

Council leader Paul de Kort said selling the halls was "the best way forward"

"Following the closure of the halls, we considered several options for the future of the site, including redeveloping it ourselves," Mr de Kort said.

"But due to changes in the wider economic climate, we decided to explore the sale of the freehold as that seemed the best way forward."

The council leader said he wished CCH well with its task of refurbishing the property, which it aimed to complete by 2026.

Gareth Loh, a senior minister at CCH, said members of the congregation were thankful to take over the "iconic building".

The sale is conditional on planning permission for change of use and is scheduled to be completed in early 2025.