Preston Youth Zone get's the go-ahead
After a decade long wait
Preston’s much anticipated Youth Zone's been given the go ahead to open in 2025- ten years after the idea was first introduced.
Preston City Council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead to the three-storey building which will sit between Tithebarn Street, Crooked Lane and Lord Street, opposite the city’s bus station
A report presented to councillors revealed that up to 2,000 youngsters per week are expected to attend the state-of-the-art set-up – with as many as 300 on site at any one time. It will cost 50 pence per visit, plus an annual membership fee of £5.
Operated by national youth charity OnSide, the Youth Zone will offer a raft of sporting, artistic, cultural and recreational activities for young people aged between eight and 19 – and will be open to up to the age of 25 for those with additional needs.
Amongst the facilities it will boast are a four-court sports hall, fitness gym, 3G rooftop kick-pitch, performance space, music room, arts and craft rooms, mentoring kitchen and recreation space with cafe, where hot meals will be on offer for ÂŁ1.
There will also be areas for more targeted work with young people – including training, mentoring and group work – along with project areas where information, advice and general support can be provided. Some of those services will be delivered by the Youth Zone’s own staff and others by, or with, a range of other partners.
Around 20 full-time and 50 part-time jobs are expected to be created, while up to 100 community volunteers will also be involved.
The plans won unanimous approval from the committee, although there was some regret that the sole green space in that part of the city – along with the 12 trees that currently grow there – would be lost.
However, councillors concluded that the benefits of the scheme outweighed any environmental disadvantages – with committee member and cabinet member for health and wellbeing Jennifer Mein declaring that it would be “absolutely horrendous” for the young people of Preston if they missed out because of concerns about the location.
She added that it was in an “ideal” spot to make the facility as accessible as possible for youngsters from across the city and south of the river"
Guy Topping, Preston Youth Zone Chair: “This is an important milestone in the Preston Youth Zone journey and exciting news for young people living in Preston and beyond. Preston Youth Zone is a local, inspirational charity that will provide thousands of young people with access to activities, opportunities, and support from trusted youth workers. So much hard work has gone into getting us to this point and I want to thank everybody who has helped make this dream a reality”.