More than 65 people came together at our neighbourhood meeting on Thursday 26th February to share their thoughts on the future of Fearon Hall, showing just how much the Hall means to the community. Attendees included regular Hall users, local residents, VCSE groups, staff, volunteers, NHS and social care practitioners, as well as representatives from All Saints with Holy Trinity (our landlord).

People at the Future Fearon neighbourhood meeting on 26th February 2026.

The event began with three short presentations introducing the NHS funding that Fearon Community Association has secured and the aims of the project: to bring our much-loved community space at Fearon Hall firmly into the 21st century and ensure it is fit for the future. Attendees were also given a first look at draft plans for the building, including a video “fly-through” showing how the Hall could look once the proposed improvements are complete.

A picture of Richard Thorpe (architect) presenting at the Future Fearon neighbourhood meeting on 26th February 2026.

Following the presentations, participants took part in a facilitated discussion using an illustrated discussion pack. This helped guide conversations around key aspects of the building and how it operates, giving people the opportunity to share their views on topics ranging from parking and waste to signage and the use of the space.

A panel session followed, where pre-submitted questions were answered by representatives from Fearon Hall, the NHS and the project’s architects. The discussion then opened up to questions from the floor.

Two people in discussion at the Future Fearon neighbourhood meeting on 26th February 2026.

It was a lively and constructive session. Time and again, people spoke about their love for the Hall and the importance of its charitable mission in the community. By the end of the event, 24 attendees had signed up to the project mailing list to stay informed about future developments. Since then, additional questions have been sent in – many focusing on how the proposed changes might affect the day-to-day running of the hall – and detailed responses have been shared.

A table discussion at the Future Fearon neighbourhood meeting on 26th February 2026.

Several topics generated the most interest and discussion, particularly:

Access, inclusion and accessibility
Toilets and facilities
Parking, transport and external access
Noise

The insights shared by attendees have been invaluable. They have helped the team better understand the needs of Hall users and local residents, as well as identify practical suggestions for improvement. These priority areas, and others raised during the meeting, will continue to shape the next stages of the project.

A picture of Darryl Gough (Chair of Trustees, FCA) at the Future Fearon neighbourhood meeting on 26th February 2026.

Darryl Gough, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Fearon Community Association, said:

“Fearon Hall is committed to a process of user-centred design and ensuring the building continues to be inclusive and accessible. We are looking forward to huge improvements at the hall and welcome the interest and support of our neighbours, hall users and local stakeholders. Regular updates will appear on our website, and we will continue to actively engage with the community about this important project.”

You can find out more about the project and read the questions raised during the meeting on our Future Fearon Project webpage.

You can also use the form below to submit any questions or comments about the building works.