Hitchin Nub News asked North Hertfordshire District Council for an update as to what's happening with Charnwood House.

The building's future has been a matter of concern for residents of Hitchin who've actively engaged in discussions as to its future use over the last few years.

It occupies a prime location in Hitchin sandwiched between Hitchin library and the Physic Garden.

Charnwood House was donated to the council by a local family for community use and became Hitchin Museum. Since the museum relocated it has been empty but not without its problems.

Back in September 2022 renovation work began to remove asbestos from the site.

The followed a series of public consultations that saw the "overwhelming message" from residents that a community hub should be based in the building.

A 2022 report revealed that the costs to the Council of managing the premises average at circa £30k per annum.

However, whilst in 2023 external agents were tasked with engaging potential operators for Charnwood House envisioning it as a lively community space, "no suitable proposals emerged" leading to Council exploring "alternative pathways to restore the building's functionality".

So, is community use no longer on the cards?

Apparently not.

Cllr Tamsin Thomas, North Herts Council's Executive Member for Enterprise and Arts, told Hitchin Nub News that: "We have completed the clearance and main works to make the property wind and watertight. We have procured an updated survey and budget costings for bringing the property back into use and are in discussion with a local organisation to potentially lease the building for wider community use."

Of course, what exactly defines "community use" and how it will function remains an open question.

Hitchin Nub News asked residents of Hitchin what they would like to see, and answers included rooms for meetings, clubs, evening and daytime classes, exhibitions, arts centre for local artists, low key performance spaces for music, poetry, dance, readings. Other ideas included it being used for Dungeons and Dragons groups, lectures or a tea and cake venue. 

See the Council's FAQs for Charnwood House here