Wisbech to get new £900,000 youth centre after plans agreed
The new centre aims to help put young people “at the heart of things”
Last updated 13th Oct 2023
A £900,000 project to build a new “cutting edge” youth centre in Wisbech has been given approval to replace ‘outdated and deteriorating’ barges.
The new centre aims to help put young people “at the heart of things”, with the plans stating that Wisbech is “challenging” place for them to live
The proposals were put together by Cambridgeshire County Council to replace the existing ‘outdated and deteriorating’ converted barges and a “makeshift bus” in the Wisbech Adventure Playground in Waterlees Road, with a new fit for purpose youth centre.
The new modular building is planned to consolidate the “various ad-hoc structures” into one building.
The county council previously said it had received £914,650 in grant funding towards the overall project.
The plans said: “This opportunity to pilot cutting edge facilities will place young people at the heart of things literally and metaphorically. Being a young person in Wisbech is challenging.
“The site provides an opportunity to deliver further regeneration benefits and improvements to the local area.
“The new building will act as an incubator space for new youth project development.
“In the past, lack of suitable accommodating space has been a prohibitive factor in the development of additional services that, due to need, are often successful in gaining revenue funding.
“The area has also suffered historically from high levels of unemployment (especially for younger people), low levels of economic activity and low educational attainment.
“There is considerable evidence which demonstrates the benefits of youth work, of which there is some provision in the town, however, having a purpose-built space will provide the step change needed to increase and develop this provision in to a comprehensive and identifiable offer in a space that young people can access and wish to be.”
The planning application for the new youth centre has been approved by the county council’s planning department.
In a report published by the planning officers they said: “The proposal would provide a replacement purpose-built youth facility, which has been designed to complement its surroundings and incorporates flood mitigation measures, landscaping, and an acceptable car and cycle parking provision.
“The building would be set back from nearby properties and would not harm residents living conditions or the general amenity of the area.”