SOUTH Norwood's historic Stanley Halls has taken a massive step towards fully re-opening after the community group behind the venue was granted charitable status.
Stanley People's Initiative (SPI) was granted the status by The Charity Commission, meaning it will now be able to sign a lease and take management of the public halls from Croydon Council.
SPI was formed in 2011 to try and get the halls, created by local businessman and philanthropist William Stanley and opened in 1903, back into public use.
Carol Clapperton, chair of the SPI trustees' board, said: "Now it really feels as if the community is going to take management of Stanley Halls.
"It may have looked a bit of a pipe dream to outsiders but it is finally going to happen.
"We just need the halls to be in a fit enough state for us to open the doors to the public and the council has those works in hand.
"We owe a huge thanks to our large band of supporters. Together we have built this community-led organisation from nothing and soon Stanley Halls will be able to fulfil its potential again."
The Council held a competitive process for a community group to take management of the Halls in 2012/13, via its community asset transfer programme, and SPI was the winning applicant.
Until the lease is handed over to SPI after vital maintenance works have taken place, there will be occasional public events at the halls.
Folk singer Steve Knightley performed to a packed audience earlier this month.
