Club To Sell Land, Rebuild On Site

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30862, 22 September 1965, Page 1

Club To Sell Land, Rebuild On Site

The Ministry’ of Works has advised the Christchurch Club that it has ceased negotiations for three quarter-acre sectionstvvo in Worcester street and one in Latimer square—surrounding the club.

The sections were sought as additions to the new police station site. The club will put them up for sale immediately, add the proceeds to its building fund, and proceed with working drawings for a new club on the existing site.

The new building is estimated to cost more than £200,000. The building programmer has advised that a permit is unlikely to be issued for 12 to 18 months, but the club will proceed with preparations. The Christchurch Club’s new building committee last evening said that the removal of the bar to private sale of part of its property lifted a cloud from the project and that a start now awaited only the authority of the building programmer.

The committee proposes to retain the corner part of its property with a frontage of 132 ft on Latimer square and 135 ft on Worcester street, an area of one rood 25.4 perches. In a revised plan the hew building is moved westward to obtain parking for an additional 13 cars. Up to 52 cars would now enter from

both sides of the new building and park in four rows, half under the building and half in the open. This rearrangement permits the retention of two magnificent trees—one on the eastern boundary with a spread of 52ft and one on the north about the same size. One between these would have to be felled.

The six-storey building will have parking for 24 cars under shelter, and service rooms on the ground floor. The main clubhouse at firstfloor level will have flexible partitions and provide draw-

ing room. bar. smoking room, billiards room, and dining room plus committee rooms and staff offices. For large gatherings the five main rooms may be opened into one. The second floor will have eight bed rooms for members. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth floors will all have identical office space for letting. No point is more than 20ft from a window. The total area of each floor will be 4000 sq. ft. The whole structure will have a stiff central core of reinforced concrete, with the roof framed in structural steel. The floors will be of reinforced concrete supported on concrete beams and columns. The total weight of the building will be about 3600 tons.