A GRADE II listed community centre outside Milton Keynes is having the finishing touches done to its renovated extension.

The York House Centre, a three story Georgian building in Stony Stratford, will be using the extension to host events including wedding receptions and fundraisers.

Barratt Homes provided £116,000 of funding – more than half of the total cost – to the redevelopment project after completing 45 new houses and flats at the nearby Wolverton development site.

The six month project to renovate the former storeroom has resulted in a brand new meeting and activity room (The Beechey Room), a new kitchen and servery, a re-clad staircase, a new zinc roof and new floors and windows among other features.

Chairman of trustees for York House Ken Daniels said: “The Beechey Room is already looking splendid and we can’t wait to open. We are really pleased with the way the building project has gone. With Barratts’, and others’, help we have given Stony Stratford a major community facility.”

During the building work original features of the building, which was built in 1860, were uncovered, including a well beneath the old kitchen and a stone archway which once led to a stable block.

Andrew Swindell, managing director for Barratt Homes Northampton, said: “The extension is looking brilliant and we were delighted that funding from our housing projects in the area has been put to such good use. It’s a great example of how new homes can bring so much more than bricks and mortar to a local community.”

The extension is due to be reopened officially in November, but bookings are already being taken for future events. For more information on bookings please contact Fiona Trinder on 01908563361.

The project was funded by Barratt Homes via Milton Keynes Council, Stony Stratford Town Council, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Milton Keynes Community Foundation and WREN from the Landfill Communities Fund.