A new Crewe Youth Zone development has been given the green light for a town centre car park site - with a target completion date of 2025.

On Wednesday 28 June, national youth charity, OnSide, received planning approval for the Crewe Youth Zone project on Oak Street Car Park.

This development aims to provide young people with opportunities to engage in activities - accessing support from skilled youth workers.

The Crewe Youth Zone development is anticipated to be completed in 2025 (Ryan Parker).

Crewe Youth Zone will be open to young people aged eight to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, seven days a week.

Young people will have access to contemporary facilities including a four-court sports hall, rooftop 3G outdoor kick pitch, gym and boxing and martial arts room for sports.

They will also have a music room with a built-in recording studio, arts and crafts area, a climbing wall, dance studio, sensory room, and mentoring kitchen. 

Youths can access all these facilities for a £5 annual membership, plus 50p per visit.

This facility will deliver skills and employability workshops in a dedicated enterprise and employability suite, as well as a wide range of programmes, services and activities.

Crewe Youth Zone will be open to young people aged eight to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, seven days a week (OnSide).

Hot, nutritious meals will also be available for £1 from the Youth Zone's café.  

Trained youth workers and dedicated volunteers will be available seven days a week to offer guidance and support to help Crewe's young people to thrive. 

It will create up to 70 full and part-time jobs and up to 100 volunteering opportunities. 

OnSide will deliver the project in partnership with Cheshire East Council and Crewe Town Board who will contribute towards the building and running costs. 

In March, it was confirmed that the Youth Zone will receive a grant from the DCMS' Youth Investment Fund - meaning all of the building costs have now been secured.

The Crewe Youth Zone development aims to provide young people with opportunities to engage in activities - accessing support from skilled youth workers (Ryan Parker).

Focus has been turned to raising the remainder of the running costs - coming from private sector and philanthropic donations.

Chair of Crewe Youth Zone, Graham Ramsbottom said: "This is an important milestone in the Crewe Youth Zone journey and exciting news for young people living in Crewe and beyond.

"Youth Zones are inspirational places that give young people support from trusted youth workers, and countless opportunities, from meeting new friends to finding their passions.

"So much hard work has gone into getting us to this point and I want to thank everybody who has helped make this dream a reality."

Local young people will have the opportunity to get involved in helping to shape their new Youth Zone.

Young people will have access to contemporary facilities including a four-court sports hall, rooftop 3G outdoor kick pitch, gym and boxing and martial arts room for sports (OnSide).

OnSide will set up a Young People's Development Group of local young people who will meet regularly to make key decisions for the town centre facility.

This will include supporting with the design and branding, and interviewing potential staff members. 

Lead member for children and families at Cheshire East Council, Carol Bulman, said: "The youth zone has now taken a huge step closer to providing a wide range of leisure, sport, health and wellbeing support for the young people of Crewe and the surrounding area.

"Our young people tell us on many occasions that improving on the number of positive things to do is one of their main priorities.

Crewe Youth Zone will create up to 70 full and part-time jobs and up to 100 volunteering opportunities (Ryan Parker).

"I look forward to seeing the plans progress, delivering a service that will not only improve the health and wellbeing of young people, but will also help drive their aspirations for the future."

For further updates on progress visit the OnSide website HERE.

READ MORE: Emergency services rescue woman 'trapped' inside vehicle following West End collision.

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