Haverhill Town Council and The Befriending Scheme have unveiled ambitious new plans for a new inclusive community campus on the former Castle Hill Middle School site.

The community campus will be centred around a care farm, operated in partnership with The Befriending Scheme, which will offer opportunities for people with learning disabilities, or those struggling with their mental health, to engage with animals, horticulture and the natural environment. Whilst the care farm will be used for therapeutic purposes during the week, it is envisaged that at weekends families will be able to bring their children to see the animals as part of the overall site experience.

Alongside the care farm, Haverhill Town Council’s plans include a large youth hub which will feature a music studio, youth club, work barn for construction skills and an alternative education provision.

For the community there will be a new community centre to serve West Haverhill, plus a café and soft play centre (relocated from its current location at The Zone on Sturmer Road).

Shirley Moore, CEO of The Befriending Scheme, said: “Opening a care farm in Haverhill has been part of our development plans for over five years. We are delighted to now be working alongside Haverhill Town Council on such a truly exciting and unique project that would make a significant difference to the Haverhill community.”

Colin Poole, Haverhill Town Clerk, explained that this project is the council’s ambition which has been developing over the last 12 months.

He said: “There is still a long way to go to make this a reality, but now is the time to engage the public as this facility will ultimately belong to them.”

A consultation is taking place at St Felix School in Haverhill from 5pm until 7pm on Tuesday 29 September.  There will be a chance to see the draft plans and speak to the architects and councillors, as well as service providers who would be delivering services within the site.