Warrington Youth Zone moves a step closer as planning permission is submitted

Proposals for the development of a new £6.5million OnSide Youth Zone, supporting thousands of young people across Warrington, have moved a step closer as a planning application has been submitted.

The joint venture between national young people’s charity OnSide and Warrington Borough Council will see a purpose-built facility which will raise aspirations, enhance prospects and improve health and wellbeing for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds in Warrington.

The new Youth Zone will offer affordable activities in sports, arts, music, employability and mentoring to young people aged from eight to 19, or up to 25 for those with a disability, every day of the week.

The confirmed site for the new state-of-the-art facility in the Stadium Quarter next to the UTC, which when completed will see Warrington Youth Club move to its new Youth Zone home. The proposed location is extremely central and accessible by public transport, enabling it to be reached by large numbers of young people from across the borough.

Cllr Jean Carter, executive board member for children’s services said: “As a major partner in this project, Warrington Borough Council is thrilled the Youth Zone is moving forward. The opportunities it will offer young people from sports to media, arts and preparing for work are hugely exciting. Not only will it offer a safe and inspiring place for young people to meet, the Youth Zone will play an important part in helping to raise young people’s aspirations, provide jobs, and help them achieve their true potential. The project will benefit the whole town and we look forward to seeing it take shape.”

Mark Brocklehurst, Chair of Warrington Youth Club said: “A lot of hard work has gone into gathering the thoughts of young people, the council and local residents in order to prepare the Youth Zone’s planning application. The young people of Warrington deserve an OnSide Youth Zone which will give them a safe and inspiring place to spend their leisure time, and we are on the road to making that dream a reality.”

Warrington Youth Zone’s capital cost of £6.5m is being funded by Warrington Borough Council and a number of additional generous funders who are keen to see Warrington benefit from an OnSide Youth Zone.