The campaign to transform a medieval Sudbury building has been given a boost after a high-profile town resident was named president of the fundraising committee.
Sudbury stalwart Lord Andrew Phillips has joined the campaign committee hoping to turn St Peter’s into a leading cultural venue for the town and wider region.
Lord Phillips will head up the campaign committee with Sudbury and Babergh District councillor Simon Barrett, who was recently made chairman.
The news comes after it was announced last month that St Peter’s has received an initial £254,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to start developing plans to transform the medieval building into a venue fit for the 21st-century.
It is hoped that the £254,000 award from the HLF is the first tranche of funding from the organisation, and could eventually amount to almost £2million. The HLF has said additional funding should be forthcoming as long as certain conditions are met as the regeneration plans take shape.
This includes the provision of £500,000 matched funding to release HLF funds, of which £175,000 is planned to be raised locally.
In addition, the Friends of St Peter’s has pledged to contribute £100,000.
Oliver Forder, chairman of the Friends of St Peter’s, said: “I am delighted that community leaders Andrew Phillips and Simon Barrett have agreed to head up the campaign committee.
“It gives the St. Peter’s regeneration project a flying start, and it demonstrates the commitment of the people of Sudbury to get this project moving, and provide a first rate cultural and community centre right at the heart of our town.”
If all money is raised, the improvements will include a contemporary internal new build at the west end, the provision of toilets, improved gardens and a new roof.
Lord Phillips’ first contribution to the fundraising campaign will be to host an evening with former secretary of state and Conservative chairman Norman Tebbit on Saturday, June 2 at St Peter’s.
Tickets for the event cost £5 in advance and can be purchased at www.stpetersudbury.co.uk
All proceeds to go towards the St Peter’s regeneration fund.
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