Building Update 4

Building
Update4
April 2019

The Church Forum on the 2 April 2019 was a well attended
and important meeting in the time-line of our Building project.
At that meeting members and attendees were given a booklet, which provided an outline
of what we are doing today in the BH1 area including a vision of the church looking
forward to reinstating its presence in Lansdowne Road, Bournemouth. The vision was
qualified with a question mark, indicating that as a church we are wanting to be open to
God’s plans for the future, being dependant upon Him not us.
Please do look on our website at
https://lansdownechurch.uk/from-here-to-where/
for the digital copy of this publication, or pick up a paper copy next time you visit church.
This Building Update has been produced to provide a summary of what was discussed
to allow everyone to be aware of the issues and enable informed prayer over the coming
weeks.

Keith McKay (Trustee/Member of the Lansdowne Group) shared about the feedback
that he had received from both the Consultation Weekend (that took place on the 8/9
February) together with meetings with the Life group (18s - 30s/students). Many
practical suggestions were made, the following of which will be taken forward:
• Additional shower and a disabled person’s shower
• LH & RH transfer disabled person’s toilet
• Additional storage
• Adjustments to kitchenette on 1st floor
• Extra urinals
• Increase door heights into the auditoria
• Sliding doors to the main entrance
• Outside tap
• First aid room
• Safe
Keith then went on to share about some of the technical detailing, separating them into
the following areas:
1. Stage height and layout including baptistry
2. Audio visual installation
•Sound / acoustics
•Lighting
•Visual
3. Access controls & intruder alarm
4. CCTV
5. Heating, cooling, ventilation & controls
Keith concluded his presentation with a break down of the current financial status of
the building work, which is summarised on the next two pages.

Regeneration
Estimated Costs to Complete
(figures exclude VAT unless noted)
Construction
Consultants’ Fees £140,000
Boundary dispute £20,000
Balance of Construction;
QS Estimate @ 05.03.19
£3,100,000 £3,260,000
Fit-out
Audio Visual £150k - £250k £200,000
Kitchen Utensils £8,000
Kitchen
£34,500 £43,000
Café £50,000
Seating £35,000
Furniture £15,000
Fittings £15,000
Others £5,000 £363,000
Miscellaneous, e.g.
insurance, hoarding
licence, car park
£35,000
VAT on Café £50,000
Total Estimated Costs £3,708,000

Regeneration
Construction Cost Overview
Spent £1,583,000
Estimated construction costs to
complete
£3,260,000
£4,843,000
Original budget -£3,000,000
Additional expenditure £1,843,000
Significant increases in cost
Remedial works included in
estimate (excl. fees)
£555,000
Increased costs in
construction over 4 years
(£2,000,000 x 15.84%)
£320,000
Additional fees £207,000
Original budget £88,000 £119,000 -£994,000
Net additional expenditure £849,000

The timeline for the next steps in the project were noted as follows:
1. Scaffolding and site - work presently in progress to tidy the site and move the
hoarding off the pavement to reduced ongoing maintenance costs.
2. Tender documents ready for pricing end May/June
3. Subject to funding, price the works; June / July / August
4. Analyse prices; August / September
5. Church vote on the award of the Building Contract; September /
October
6. Phasing
Julian Navey (Trustee responsible for Finances) shared the following details regarding
the financial challenge ahead.
The Challenge - Where do we start?
Julian reminded us of the prime importance of Prayer and Scripture quoting from 2
Corinthians 9: 6-8, emphasising the spiritual legacy of our giving. The priority of
personal and corporate prayer over the coming weeks was also emphasised.
The Challenge – What next?
Julian described the nature of the challenge ahead and that not only was the £1.8m a
large figure, but that if we are to appoint a main contractor as soon as possible then
most of those funds need to be available before the end of 2019. Although regular
monthly giving is still most appropriate for some givers the emphasis needs to be on
giving larger sums in the short term and we were challenged to consider how we might
fund a large purchase like a roof repair or a new kitchen at home, and apply those
thoughts as to how we would be able to give a significant sum to the project in the
coming months. It was noted
- Over 300 people have given to the Regen project over the last 6 years
- 300 gifts of £5,000 = £1,500,000
- If those gifts were gift-aided = £1,875,000!!
The Challenge – Already Started
Julian reported that the Elders/Trustees and Pastors were challenged by the situation
facing the leadership in 1 Chronicles 29. As a result each gave a confidential new
commitment and the total committed by the group came to over £200,000 of
immediate gifts such that the target is now less than £1,600,000! This was a great
encouragement to all!
Loans and Legacies
A loan form CAF bank has been agreed in principle for £700k and is over and above the
£1.8m to be raised. The monthly cost of this is just above £4,000 with an interest rate a
little over 3.5%. Currently regular monthly giving, specifically for the building project,
is over £6,000 and will therefore cover the repayments. These commitments would
need to be renewed/replaced in 5 year cycles over the term of the loan. Julian challenged
those present to consider whether legacy payments from wills might be considered to
help this loan to be paid off more quickly in the next 20 years. The following table was
presented to show how the monthly repayments might change if interest rates were to
change in the coming years.
The 19 May is now scheduled as the Gift Day where everyone will be given the
opportunity to contribute.

Regeneration Project: Balance to Raise
Estimated Cost to Complete 3,708,000
Cash in account and confirmed Pledges
to be completed
1,216,000
Loan 700,000
1,916,000
Balance to raise 1,792,000
Say
£1.8m
Loans and Legacies: Potential Loan Costs
Loan £700,000
Monthly repayments
Repayment Term 15 Years 20 years
Interest Rate
3.50% £4,909 £3,937
4.50% £5,201 £4,229
5.50% £5,493 £4,520
Current extended pledges £6,000 + per month
Conclusion
Faced with the exciting potential of our new building alongside the huge financial
challenge, what next ?
The first thing is to hand the whole thing over to God in serious, sustained prayer.
That’s what believers do. Prayer is the first recourse not the last resort. Maybe the scale
of the mountain we now have to climb, is exactly what we need as a Church to drive us to
our knees in humble, dependent reliance on God.
Step two: That may well be to become one of the “Lansdowne 300”, giving more or less
than £5000. The amount is not as important as the attitude. For God loves a cheerful
giver not a compelled one!
In the gospel, it was the widow and her mite who was commended. Why? Because as
Jesus said “she gave everything she had”.
We are on a journey. It’s longer than we expected. But we trust the Lord to build His
house in His way and in His time.
After all He is the God who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or even imagine!
So as we approach the important Gift Day on Sunday 19 May, let’s do so with
faith- filled, prayer- saturated, God- dependent hope.

Lansdowne Church
Woodbury Avenue
Bournemouth
BH8 0HH
01202 297977
lansdownechurch.uk
office@lansdownechurch.uk
Registered Charity No 1158579
In Lansdowne
for good
Lansdowne Church is a name of Lansdowne Baptist Church Bournemouth. CIO. Charity No. 1158579. Principal Office in England