John Puttick Associates has won planning and listed building consent for the redevelopment of a Grade II-listed maltings in Grimsby town centre, Lincolnshire, into a Youth Zone.
The scheme will retrofit existing buildings and extend the site to create Horizon Youth Zone – a welcoming and accessible hub for young people developed by the national youth charity OnSide.
The new project is modelled on OnSide’s successful national network of Youth Zones. Youth Zones across the network welcome 200 or more young people (aged 8-19, or up to 25 years old with additional needs) to each site daily, at a cost of 50p per visit. There are currently 14 Youth Zones in the OnSide Network, each offering a choice of over 20 recreational, arts and sports activities supervised by experienced youth workers. Youth workers and dedicated volunteers will be available seven days a week to provide support and guidance for young people who need it.
The 5,440sq m Grimsby site comprises the former West Haven Maltings and Migar House buildings. The largest warehouse will be opened up to create a central gathering space where young people can meet, join activities and enjoy a hot meal. New-build elements will include a four court sports hall; a metal-mesh volume housing the climbing wall; and a single-storey, grey-brick addition with performance space and supporting facilities, that links all the components together. A new outside area with a kick-pitch and skatepark, sheltered by the L-shaped plan, will provide further amenities.
The design scheme is the outcome of extensive discussion with Historic England and input from the Young People’s Development Group. Grimsby’s Horizon Youth Zone is being developed in partnership with national charity OnSide, North East Lincolnshire Council and the local business community.
Other facilities will include a café, fitness suite including boxing, martial arts and cardio and strength equipment, arts and crafts areas, health and wellbeing room music, mentoring kitchen for cooking skills, and film and multimedia space.
“Gaining planning and listed building consent for Horizon Youth Zone is an important step forward for this significant regeneration project. The work involved will breathe new life into the impressive historic buildings and bring opportunities for young people to the heart of Grimsby,” said John Puttick, John Puttick Associates.
