Horizon Youth Zone price tag goes up £1.3m

The price tag for Grimsby’s Horizon Youth Zone has risen, forcing the council to have to commit £1.3m more to fund the project.

The multi-activity youth centre will support young people aged 8-19 and has been developed by North East Lincolnshire Council in partnership with national youth charity OnSide. Inflationary pressures and the renovation of a listed building are the reasons for an 11 per cent cost rise to £13.5m.

The council’s cabinet approved £1.34m of capital investment on Wednesday, June 14, to cover the shortfall. Work is expected to start on the project this summer, potentially within the month.

Read more: Work to finally start on Grimsby’s Horizon Youth Zone

“It’s incredibly important that we continue to support the Youth Zone and help provide the opportunity for young people in the area to have another place to spend their free time,” said council leader Cllr Philip Jackson. “We’re committed to helping to regenerate the town centre, and the Youth Zone is one of the major developments that form part of this, both in the immediate future, and for generations to come.”

Given planning approval in May 2021, Horizon Youth Zone will be set in Grimsby’s oldest dock and comprise the former West Haven Maltings and Migar House buildings. West Haven Maltings is Grade 2 listed and has been derelict for around 35 years. In that time, the area was subject to a spate of arson attacks in the early 2000s.

Dozens of activities will be offered by Horizon Youth Zone across the 40,000 sq foot site, from football and climbing to drama and cooking. All for 50p a night.

The site will include an indoor climbing wall, four court sports hall, training kitchen, a recording studio, fully equipped gym, dance and drama studio, café, an enterprise and employability suite, and more. Its design was shaped by the views of young people from Grimsby and surrounding areas.

“I think it’s important to emphasise it’s not just a glorified youth club, it’s providing a whole range of facilities and guidance to young people,” said Cllr Jackson. He explained this was the first time such a youth zone was done by repurposing an existing, listed building, rather than building something new.

As a result, costs for this youth zone were more than in other parts of the country. Inflationary pressures affecting construction in the UK was also behind the new £13.5m price tag. The main contractor provided the fully costed new build cost.

A variety of funding sources had already been secured for the project before the council’s latest intervention. This included £1m from green energy giant Ørsted, £2.7m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund with £2.2m for the renovation, the council through the Great Grimsby Town Deal, and £5.7m from the Youth Investment Fund with contingency to go to £7.9m if costs rose.

That is besides also a variety of private donors, who council leader Cllr Philip Jackson indicated to cabinet were mainly local firms keen for Horizon Youth Zone’s success.

Cllr Jackson noted that in December 2018 the council’s then cabinet had made allowance to fill a shortfall if it occurred due to the renovation cost. “It is anticipated that the £13.5m figure is an accurate reflection in the current climate,” he said.

“We are hoping that spades will go in the ground later on this month.”

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The centre is now expected to open by the 2025/26 financial year. It will be run as a local charity, with a private sector-led board.

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