£500,000 Grant To Restore Derelict Soham Mill

Nearly £500,000 is being awarded towards the cost of converting the town's Spencer Mill into an arts and community centre

The cash has been awarded by Cambridgeshire County Council’s Communities and Partnership Committee from its Cambridgeshire Communities Capital Fund.
 
Spencer Mill has been derelict for more than thirty years and is often a magnet for anti-social behaviour, vandalism and drug related issues.
 
The project will restore and extend the disused building into a vibrant community asset which will host a range of arts and culture activities and provide much-needed community space.
 
The Viva Arts and Community Group had already raised £1.9m in match funding from over 40 different funders and required a further £498,317 to complete the project. The panel felt that the project has demonstrated strong evidence of local need and would make a significant impact to the Soham community, bringing a historic building back into community use.
 
The money will enable organisers to restore the existing mill building (including a new roof, windows, doors, insulation etc) and its grounds to its former glory, creating a main flexible auditorium area and an upstairs events, meeting and social space.

Work on the building is estimated to be completed in March 2021.
 
Cambridgeshire County Councillor for Soham North, Mark Goldsack, said: “This is wonderful news for Viva, for Spencer Mill and for Soham and the surrounding area. Not only will the grant enable the restoration of the derelict mill, it will also mean that Viva can develop and enhance its fantastic work in the community. I am very grateful to the County Council’s Communities Capital Fund for its generosity.”