Ham Hill will get a new visitor center that will have exhibits and classrooms. Construction begins in March.
The National Lottery folks gave a lot of money, starting with £1.6m and then increased to £2.15m! Somerset Council is now in charge since April 2023, and they picked Skinner Construction to build it. Skinner Construction will start soon, in a matter of weeks.
The new center will be 235 square meters, which translates to about 2,500 square feet. It will feature exhibits, both permanent and changing ones. You’ll also find classrooms and a cafe. The center idea originated back in 2019 and its design will resemble a round house. This shape reflects the Iron Age history of the area.
Skinner Construction submitted the best bid, winning against seven other submitted proposals. Building begins in March and is slated to continue until September. They might extend it until Christmas time, if needed.
Chris Hall highlighted Ham Hill’s significance as a large Iron Age hill fort, noting that people have inhabited it since the Iron Age. The park has expanded significantly through land acquisition. The ranger base and toilets are now located outside the visitor center.
The project secured permission for both the building and landscaping work. They will also lower the speed limit to 40 mph to clearly mark the entrance to Ham Hill. The plans take into account the area’s historical and environmental context. Efforts will be made to minimize disturbance and facilitate visitor enjoyment.
The Ham Hill project has secured over £3m in funding. The National Lottery contributed over £2.15m, a significant portion of the total. The council provided £453,000 from various sources. They also sold a tractor and obtained some smaller grants.
Construction costs alone amount to around £1.26m, while design expenses exceeded £177,000, including landscaping. More detailed design and project management work cost over £296,000. Related work, such as car park improvements cost almost £267,000.
The budget allocated £51,000 for improving the park’s paths. Audio and visual guides will be available for visitors. Almost £50,000 has been earmarked for staging events. Finally, funds have been set aside to hire park rangers to manage the visitor center effectively.