NEWTON"S Place, Newton Abbot’s museum, community space and town council offices, has been opened officially by the mayor, Carol Bunday, and town clerk Phil Rowe.

The ceremony took place in the former St Leonard’s Church, Wolborough Street, on Saturday April 1 shortly after the crew of HMS Triumph had accepted the Freedom of the Town.

The submariners, officers and invited guests, including Bishop Nick McKinnel serving as High Sheriff of Devon, were present to hear Mr Rowe explain how the £2.5 million project had come about as the result of the previous Newton Abbot and District Community Plan in which residents had asked for a better museum and community hub.

He said creating the facility had been a challenge for all involved but had been delivered largely on budget and on time, despite the collapse of the main contractor and onset of the Covid 19 pandemic.

‘My admiration of the council’s brave decision to not only save what was a crumbling historic building, but develop a £2.5 million project within its restored walls, was matched only by my trepidation that it was down to me and the small town hall team to deliver,’ he told the audience.

Almost £2 million of the cost was covered by grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).

Taryn Nixon, chairperson of the NLHF England, London & South Committee, described the project as ‘inspired and ambitious’, adding: ‘I’d like you to know this stands out to everyone in the Heritage Fund as an impressive and excellent quality project giving St Leonard’s a new lease of life.

‘And bringing the accredited museum, council offices and meeting spaces for all together, it creates a real heart in the town.’

Cllr Bunday said: ‘In the past six years St Leonard’s has been transformed from an old derelict building, which developers were eyeing up as a nightclub, to this modern museum and community hub, which just happens to house our council offices.

‘We are proud of the partnership working that has turned a dream into reality, and we thank every one of you that has given so much in making it the success that it is.

‘I now declare that the dream, which is Newton’s Place, is officially open.’