A village's new community hall which cost more than £1 million has finally been completed after its opening date was repeatedly delayed due to a number of setbacks. 

The multi-purpose centre, along Long Lane in Stoke Holy Cross, includes a main hall, a separate meeting room, a large multipurpose kitchen and a hall area. 

It will be used for meetings and events, as well as being home to a cafe, bar and an Ofsted-approved classroom for the village preschool.

The hall is finally complete after nearly a yearThe hall is finally complete after nearly a year (Image: Julia Harris) Parish Council chair Sandy Collins expressed her delight at the project's completion, saying: "The new hall is a wonderful facility for our village, which will enable new opportunities to enrich our community.

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"This building is a testament to the countless hours of hard work put in by our volunteer working group."

Talks to provide the growing village with a new and upgraded pavilion started nearly a decade ago.

The former hall was no longer suitable for Stoke Holy Cross' growing needsThe former hall was no longer suitable for Stoke Holy Cross' growing needs (Image: Supplied) Following a feasibility study, architect Chaplin Farrant was appointed to "bring the vision to life" and local contractors Draper and Nicholls were hired to carry out the work.

Funding for the project was secured in June 2023 which included a "significant" grant from the South Norfolk Council Infrastructure Fund and ground was officially broken in January this year.

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This included demolishing the former hall and erecting a temporary centre in the adjoining car park to provide a community space while the new hall was constructed.

Preschool kids and staff entered the new hall for the first time yesterdayPreschool kids and staff entered the new hall for the first time yesterday (Image: Julia Harris) An initial completion date was set for mid-August but heavy rains slowed work to a near-halt and the opening was pushed to September. 

Supply chain issues saw the deadline moved again but yesterday saw the preschool staff welcome the first kids back to the modern venue. 

While the hall has already received some event bookings, it will not be fully open for general use until the new year when it will be formally opened.

The hall's official opening for events and meetings will be in the new yearThe hall's official opening for events and meetings will be in the new year (Image: Julia Harris)