Fair Oak Village Hall kitchen
gets a new lease of life

A much-loved Fair Oak community hub is celebrating a brand-new kitchen, thanks to an OHH social value project that brought together businesses from across our development supply chain.

For almost 40 years, the kitchen at Fair Oak Village Hall has helped keep the community going.

Since the hall opened in 1987, its kitchen has been used by countless groups and organisations. From the regular preschool and dance groups to indoor and outdoor bowls, health and wellbeing sessions, stroke rehabilitation, craft groups, residents’ meetings and celebrations.

But after nearly four decades of use, it was time for a change.

The village hall was put forward by Cllr Steve Broomfield for consideration through Eastleigh Borough Council’s social value initiative and was selected by a panel to receive support.

Planning for the project began in November 2025, with One Horton Heath coordinating the project and Wates Residential supporting the delivery and bringing together members of its supply chain.

Main kitchen – before and after

A complete kitchen transformation

This wasn’t simply a case of replacing the old kitchen like-for-like.

The layout was redesigned to make better use of the available space, with the hot water system and plumbing adapted to suit the new design. The new layout also created space for a dishwasher, something that had been high on the hall’s wish list, while providing better storage for the many groups who use the facility.

The smaller second kitchen also received an updated cupboard arrangement.

Across the project, businesses contributed their time, skills and materials, including a new Wren kitchen, anti-slip flooring, tiling, decorating, carpentry, plumbing and electrical works, with PJH donating the much-requested dishwasher.

The result is a clean, modern and hard-wearing kitchen designed to serve the hall and its users for many years to come.

Fair Oak Village Hall Chairman of the Board of Trustees, John Layman, said: “After almost 40 years of use, it was in need of renewal, so we’re delighted to have a modern, practical kitchen that will benefit everyone who uses the hall for many years to come.

“We’re extremely grateful to One Horton Heath, Wates Residential and everyone who contributed their time, skills and materials. This project has made a real difference to the hall and the wider community.”

Kitchen 2 - before and after

A new purpose for the old kitchen

One of the things we’re particularly pleased about is what happened to some of the old kitchen once it was removed.

Rather than useful components going straight to landfill, sinks, taps, cupboards, sections of worktop and an under-sink water heater have been given a new purpose through Edmonds Learning & Development (ELD), which operates the Routes Skills Centre at One Horton Heath.

ELD provides practical construction training for 14 to 16-year-olds, including young people who may find the traditional classroom environment challenging.

The old kitchen components will now become practical training equipment. In particular, the additional sinks mean students can practise plumbing skills at the same time, increasing the number of young people who can work through the practical exercises.

Steve Edmonds, from ELD, said: “Previously, we only had one practice sink, so this enables me to have three, which means we can get more students through at the same time. They get a realistic idea of what they need to be doing – taking things apart, taking the taps apart, putting them back together and installing them – and it all goes towards their plumbing qualification and ultimately their wider qualification.”

So, while the old kitchen has reached the end of its life at the village hall, parts of it will continue to be useful, helping a new generation develop practical skills.

A community project, delivered together

The project has been a real team effort.

Wates Residential helped coordinate the work and brought together contractors and suppliers from its supply chain, while the hall’s chairman and caretakers worked closely with the teams throughout to keep the project moving and minimise disruption to the hall’s regular users.

A huge thank you to everyone involved, including Wates Residential, Wren Kitchens, Drywall Southern, Ceramic Specialists, Flooring First, PJH, AJC Carpentry, KAR painters, and the wider team of trades, contractors and decorators who helped turn the project from an idea into a finished kitchen.

The project is a great example of what social value can look like in practice: bringing people and businesses together to make a tangible difference to a valued local facility.

Main kitchen – from dark and tired to light and airy

OHH Senior Communications Officer, Jenny Payne, said:

“One Horton Heath is about creating more than new homes and infrastructure – it’s about being part of the wider community and looking for opportunities to make a positive difference locally.

“Fair Oak Village Hall brings the community together in so many ways, supporting local groups, activities and events. Helping to renew a facility that is used by so many people was really important to us.

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed their time, skills and resources to the project. It has been a brilliant team effort, and we’re proud to see the finished kitchen now ready to support the community for many years to come.”

Kitchen reveal event – cupcakes provided by Wates Residential

The new kitchen was officially unveiled at a ribbon-cutting event attended by the Mayor of Eastleigh, Councillor Richard Gomer, marking the next chapter for a facility that has played such an important role in the local community since 1987.

The Mayor said: “Fair Oak Village Hall hosts so many brilliant community groups, supporting health and wellbeing, leisure and community activities, dance groups, the preschool and more.

“The previous kitchen had been in place for 39 years, and if you think about how many groups and bookings it has supported over that time, it really shows what an important facility this is.

“We hope this new facility will continue to serve the community in Fair Oak, Horton Heath and the local area for generations of local users.”

From left to right – Terry from Drywall Southern, Richard, Rebecca and Isla from Wates, The Mayor Cllr. Gomer, Alex, Mary FOVH Trustee, John FOVH Chairman, Jenny from OHH and Steve from ELD.