October 17, 2019 4.04 pm This story is over 53 months old

£8m YMCA hostel in Grimsby given green light

They want to be “at the heart of the community”
How the YMCA hostel on Grimsby's Freeman Street would look.

North East Lincolnshire Council has given the green light for an £8 million YMCA hostel building on Grimsby’s Freeman Street.

As part of the plan, the charity will build a four-storey, 74 bedroom unit with a health and wellbeing centre, cafe, gym and conference and exhibition rooms.

More than 50 people will be employed at the new development after transferring from the current site in Peaks Lane.

YMCA Chief Executive Debbie Cooke said previously that the plan will help to base the charity “at the heart of the community”.

YMCA Humber Accommodation Manager Andrew Hornsby,
the Chairman of the Enrolled Freemen of Grimsby Stephen White, Mark Hodson of Hodson
Architects and YMCA Humber Chief Executive Debbie Cook.

“YMCA Humber has a proud history, with a Christian ethos embedded in all we stand for,” she said.

“This ambitious plan is about the YMCA stepping us as a community leader to provide aspirational accommodation and opportunity for our residents and the local community.

“Basing ourselves in the heart of this community, where our support is needed, is really important to us.

“We will be able to work alongside partners and other groups to offer people, who need our help, true opportunity.”

Under the proposals, one bedroom flats, two bedroom flats, one bedroom studios and one bedroom mobility units will be available to residents.

Inside the proposed YMCA building, which will host 74 bedrooms.

A private courtyard will also be built and include raised planters, seating, bin and garden stores along with secure cycle provision.

The proposed building will be developed at the former House of Holland store on Freeman Street.

Alongside the development, architects have also drawn up plans for 16 town houses and a further 72 one and two-bed flats.

The YMCA’s other 26-bed facility on the other side of Riby Square will remain open under the plans.

In January, bulldozers moved in to demolish part of Freeman Street as regeneration works in the area continue.

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