Winterbourne Medieval Barn Trust

Built in 1342, Winterbourne Medieval Barn is a building of national importance - a unique survival of the medieval agrarian economy. It is a Grade II* Listed Building which, due to its high risk category, was purchased by South Gloucestershire District Council in 1998 with the help of funding from English Heritage and the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme. The urgent works required to support and stabilise the structure of the main Barn and south range, and to give protection from the elements and allow walls to dry out, began in February 2002 and were completed shortly thereafter.

Since then, WMBT has been granted charitable status and has received support from the Advancing Assets programme to undertake vital drainage work; improve governance arrangements; forge relations with the Architectural Heritage Fund; and undertake business planning activity to help secure the £1.6m capital investment required to redevelop and transfer the site into community ownership.
WMBT aims to provide enterprise accommodation and education facilities, as well as a space for hosting community events.

Strategic Developments & Support

Support to the local authority built upon a strong existing commitment amongst Members and officers to support community asset transfer wherever appropriate; the Council had already transferred a number of assets based upon a tried and tested approach to working with interested community groups. Specifically, the programme facilitated discussion about developments elsewhere in the country which resulted in a redrafting of the Council’s existing transfer policy. This will be issued for external consultation during Autumn 2009 prior to formal adoption by the Council.

The Council offers transfer recipients support to develop transfer plans with an emphasis upon enterprise and sustainability; has agreed standard lease terms for those groups with whom it is keen to work; and provides tapering ‘start-up’ grants linked to service level agreements to assist transfer recipients in the early phase of asset management. It is also developing a list of ‘available’ assets which it intends to publish online to aid groups and communities in identifying suitable premises and service outlets in their local area.

Useful Links

http://www.southglos.gov.uk/
http://www.winterbournebarn.co.uk/