Planning approved for Grimsby’s Horizon Youth Zone

Planning approval for Grimsby’s Horizon Youth Zone has been granted. The state-of-the-art Youth Zone will provide a safe and inspiring place for young people to spend their leisure time, meet new people and enjoy new activities.

Set to be built in Grimsby Town Centre in the former West Haven Maltings and Migar House buildings, the youth charity will provide thousands of young people from the local area with somewhere to develop their skills, discover their talents and realise their full potential.

Horizon Youth Zone will be open to young people aged 8-19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, 7 days a week.

For just 50p per visit, members will have access to an indoor climbing wall, four court sports hall, training kitchen, music room with a recording studio, fully equipped gym, dance and drama studio, 3G kick pitch, arts and crafts room, enterprise and employability suite and much more.

Grimsby Youth Zone’s Young People’s Development Group meet weekly and play a key role in the development of the Youth Zone including branding, staff recruitment, interior design and much more.

Development group member Erin, age 16, said: “It feels really special to hear the good news about the planning application because we have had such a massive part to play in the development of the Youth Zone including interviewing potential volunteers and presenting at board meetings. Now planning consent has been granted, we have reassurance that all our hard work has been worthwhile.”

Earlier this year, the group took part in a creative branding process which saw them develop two potential names and logos for the new Youth Zone. The Youth Zone was officially named ‘Horizon’ after over 1,600 young people cast their vote.

Grimsby’s Horizon Youth Zone is being developed in partnership with national charity OnSide, North East Lincolnshire Council and the local business community. It will join a network of 14 state-of-the-art Youth Zones with locations in Bolton, Blackburn, Carlisle, Wigan, Manchester, Oldham, Wolverhampton, Wirral, Chorley, Warrington, Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Croydon and East Manchester.

Gill Alton, Trustee of Horizon Youth Zone and Chief Executive of TEC Partnership and the Grimsby Institute said: “This is an important milestone in the Horizon Youth Zone journey. Grimsby is bursting with bright and talented young people who need somewhere safe and inspiring to go and Horizon Youth Zone will provide just that. If you are interested in supporting young people through this new charity then please get in touch to join us on this exciting journey.”

Philip Jackson, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “I’m really pleased the project has reached this stage – it’s an important project, not only for the young people of our borough, but also one of the key parts of the regeneration of Grimsby town centre. Along with the other projects planned for the town, we’re in really exciting times.”

The next step will be to progress the detailed design ready for tender before building work starts on site. Please follow us on social media for regular updates or visit our website www.horizonyouthzone.org