New youth centre for Wick one step closer to reality

Plans for a new youth centre in Littlehampton have been approved by councillors.
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Designs for the facility, set to replace the Keystone Centre in Eldon Way, Wick, were given the green light at a full council meeting of Littlehampton Town Council on June 18.

Councillor Billy Blanchard-Cooper said: “This is a very exciting project as not only will it provide a fully inclusive and accessible facility for young people but also serve as an invaluable community asset.”

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Councillors were given a presentation by Heyler Davies Architects detailing the plans: a 431sqm, two-storey building containing a large flexible interior hall space, small meeting rooms and a kitchen with parking at the entrance and space behind for outdoor facilities.

An artist's impression of what the new youth facility on the Keystone Centre site in Wick could look likeAn artist's impression of what the new youth facility on the Keystone Centre site in Wick could look like
An artist's impression of what the new youth facility on the Keystone Centre site in Wick could look like

Sustainability was a key feature of the designs. Councillor James Walsh said he was ‘very excited’ by them, including the inclusion of solar panels, and asked if a ground source heat pump could be included. The architects said they would look into it but added it was very expensive to install.

Councillor Ian Buckland asked for more disabled toilets, and the architects assured him the building would comply with the law.

Councillors also discussed adding a mural wall so the young people could take ownership of the design.

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Discussions began on the project in 2019, between Arun District Council and the town council on what should replace the Keystone Centre.

The town council is the main funder – using money from the Morrisons supermarket and Kingley Gate developments and Arun itself, which owns the land.

Arun Youth Projects is also having input on the scheme.

The next phase of the project will be preparing a more detailed planning application, which is expected to be submitted to Arun in September.