Plans submitted for Basildon Youth Zone

A planning application has been submitted to Basildon Council for an exciting £8.4million OnSide Youth Zone.

Subject to plans being approved, Basildon Youth Zone will be built in the car park opposite Trafford House, as part of regeneration plans for Basildon town centre.

Youth Zones provide a safe and inspiring place for young people to spend their leisure time. Open seven days a week, Basildon Youth Zone will offer 20 activities each night ranging from sports such as football, boxing and climbing to creative arts, music, drama and employability training – all for just 50p per visit.

OnSide Youth Zones’ Relationship Development Manager David Mellis said: “We are delighted we are now at a stage where we can submit our planning application. Basildon Youth Zone will be the world class facility local young people deserve and we look forward to working with the Council and local community to make this happen.”

Basildon Youth Zone will operate as an independent local charity and will be built in line with OnSide’s successful Youth Zone model. There are 14 similar centres operating across the country.

Basildon Youth Zone will cost an estimated £1.3million per year to run, of which Basildon Council will contribute £400,000 in addition to £4.1million towards the building costs.

Prior to opening, OnSide Youth Zones will work with the new Youth Zone to fundraise for the remaining building costs and the first three years running costs from a combination of private sector contributions and accessing charitable trusts and grants.

Cllr David Harrison, Chair of the Council’s Neighbourhoods and Public Spaces Committee, said: “The submission of the planning application is an exciting step closer to Essex’s first Youth Zone coming to Basildon. We look forward to continuing to support OnSide in developing the facility – which will have such a positive impact on our borough’s young people.”

For the FAQs on Basildon Youth Zone, click here