Foxie’s Future campaigners awarded £1.7m from government’s Community Ownership Fund to save axed Foxlease activity centre in Lyndhurst

A campaign group hoping to save a popular activity centre in Lyndhurst has been awarded more than £1.7m from the government.

As reported in the A&T, Girlguiding-run Foxlease on Clay Hill is one of five activity centres across the country facing the axe, alongside overseas operations, in a cost-cutting drive by the organisation.

In a bid to save the site, campaigners have formed charitable incorporated organisation Foxie’s Future and registered the building as an Asset of Community Value, which enables them to bid for the property.

The group found out on Friday the “amazing news” that it was successful in applying for the government’s Community Ownership Fund, which supports groups to take over assets which are at risk of being lost.

The award of £1.73m capital funding and £50,000 revenue funding is in addition to £1m raised by the organisation through pledges, grants and fundraising.

A statement on its Facebook page said: “The funding award is fantastic news for us and achieves the next fundamental step on our journey to save this wonderful historic site for future generations of young people and the local community.

“Unfortunately, we're not there yet. Whilst we now have the funding we need to purchase Foxlease, we still do not know if Girlguiding UK will accept our bid and agree to us being their preferred purchaser over any other bids which they may have received.

“We understand that all bids have been submitted for the site and so we must now wait to hear the outcome of that part of the process - we have everything crossed that Girlguiding UK will choose us.”

The statement added: “We do not know who we are up against, but firmly believe that it would be so much better for the site to continue for the benefit of young people and the community, rather than as a development site, hotel or other commercial investment.

“The funding awarded to us means that the rescue of the site is a real, tangible possibility, with the seller's decision now being the only potential barrier remaining to the site's rescue.”

Last year estate agent Savills put the site on the market for £4m.

The land can be purchased as a whole or in two lots.

Lot one has a guide price of £2.5m and includes the Grade II listed 23-bedroom Princess Mary House, which is set within 65 acres of landscaped gardens.

Additional accommodation provided onsite includes a separate three-bedroom residential bungalow, 14 self-contained campsites with facilities and an outdoor activity area.

Lot two, up for £1.5m, consists of three residential properties.

Link Bungalow has four bedrooms and is currently let on an assured shorthold tenancy. Foxlease Cottages are a pair of semi-detached, three bedroom houses built in 1850, both let on assured shorthold tenancies.

Foxie’s Future will be hosting a fundraising fair at Lyndhurst Community Centre on 14th April to further boost its campaign.

Taking place between 1pm and 3.30pm, there will be homemade gifts and crafts, books, toys and free children’s craft activities.