Crawley Borough Council has secured £200,000 of external grant funding to deliver a new Community Hubs project, supporting the installation of modern, smart technology across 23 sites in the borough.

The project will see a wide range of equipment installed in community centres and pavilions, enabling remote access and control of key building systems including CCTV, door entry and heating. This will allow facilities to be managed more efficiently and safely, while considerably reducing the need for council officers to travel between sites.

The new technology will deliver significant environmental benefits by cutting vehicle journeys, reducing energy consumption and making better use of resources. It will also help drive long-term cost efficiencies by improving how council buildings are monitored and maintained.

The Community Hubs project aligns with the council’s approved 2026 to 2027 budget. It will support internal compliance and project delivery, including work related to Martyn’s Law, enabling the council to significantly increase the amount of work it can carry out in this area. The new law requires reasonable public protection measures to be taken with regards to security and emergency response.

This funding allows us to make practical improvements to community buildings right across the borough, using technology to manage them more efficiently, safely and sustainably. By reducing officer travel and energy use, we are not only lowering costs but also supporting our environmental commitments. The Community Hubs project, alongside the additional investment approved in the 2026 to 2027 budget, will strengthen our capacity to deliver important work for residents and community groups.

Councillor Michael Jones

Leader of Crawley Borough Council

Installation of the new equipment will be rolled out across the 23 sites as part of the Community Hubs programme, helping to modernise facilities that are used daily by local residents and organisations.