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New YMCA is final piece in Norwich jigsaw

2007: YMCABusStationArtistThe final piece of the jigsaw to redevelop Norwich bus station has been unveiled as a modern YMCA building.

An artist's impression of the proposed scheme shows how the development, which will also see the building of flats, a café and a shop on the remaining undeveloped part of the site, will conclude the bus station redevelopment.

Plans have been developed by NPS Property Consultants - the county council's wholly owned property consultancy - and were recently approved by the city council's planning applications committee.

The site will be developed in partnership with the YMCA to produce a new 34-place hostel. The remainder of the site will be sold to develop the 70 flats, a cafe unit on the Queen's Road frontage and a retail unit next to the bus station.

The YMCA has already secured £2.7m of funding while a 150th anniversary appeal backed by a host of well-known public figures including the Bishop of Norwich and Richard Jewson, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, is also hoping to raise a further £1.1m.

The 70 flats will range from one to three bedrooms, and will also benefit from provision of leisure facilities - such as a swimming pool, gym and sauna.

The £5m bus station opened on August 30, 2005, as part of a master plan by the county council to redevelop the run-down facility.

 

Chief executive of Norfolk YMCA, John Drake, said: “We are delighted, relieved and ready now for all the opportunities that it will mean.

“The good news about the new development is that we will be able to offer facilities for females as well as males, whereas at St Giles we couldn't."

Tony Williams, cabinet member for commercial services and efficiency at Norfolk County Council, said: “Until the county council purchased the bus station site in November 2002, the old bus station had deteriorated over many years and wasn't the welcoming gateway that residents and visitors alike can now expect when arriving in Norwich, and Norfolk.

“This is a further exciting step forward for the bus station site and, once completed, it will be a further demonstration of the vitality that the county council has helped bring to our city centre.”

 
Pictured above is an artist's impression of the new YMCA building in Norwich city centre.
 
Story and pictures courtesy of www.edp24.co.uk
 

 


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