Manage a community asset

In March 2022, Sompting Big Local asked for specialist assets support and guidance for their project to install a new toilet block in the local park. The toilet block would replace an old and dilapidated block in a well-used park in the heart of the area.

The project came about after the partnership’s research identified that a lack of knowledge about public toilets leads to 1 in 5 local people not venturing out. They also wanted to make sure that the new toilets were vadal-proof after finding that vandalism is the main cause of public toilets closing down.

The brief included many challenges, including multiple stakeholders who all needed to agree and coordinate around the project.

We introduced the area to our assets partner Locality, who encouraged the partnership to hire a Capital Project Manager who could oversee the detail of the project to completion. Locality helped the partnership negotiate this hire with their LTO and prepared a job specification. They provided regular in-person, practical support, including convening meetings between different stakeholders and making sure the momentum was maintained and offered their expertise around project planning, planning permissions and local compliance.

The partnership reflected that their Locality advisors fitted in well with the partnership and the worker reported that their help has boosted the confidence of the partnership in understanding what needs to be done and when to make the project a success.

The project is expected to be complete in early summer 2023.

Read more examples of where areas are making it happen with assets support here >