East Centre
Prudhoe Community Partnership has announced an ambitious scheme to redevelop the East Centre on Front Street as a purpose built hub for young people in Prudhoe. Click on the video above for a ‘fly through’ of what the facilities in the new building might look like.
PCP has consulted young people involved with Prudhoe Youth Project and other youth groups in the town and has commissioned the local firm of Newton Architects to produce an initial design for public consultation.
The plans were endorsed by a public consultation in January which showed 76% support for a new building and similar support for the new design. But note all the layouts and rooms uses will continue to evolve.
The proposals are for a new building with flexible interior space which will be designed to ‘passivhaus’ standards which will be energy efficient and economical to run. There will be outdoor space for a gardening project and hard standing for ball games.
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- Existing East Centre, built in 1866, much loved but sadly not economic to restore and no longer suitable as a youth hub
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- Proposed view of building exterior
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- Proposed new building built to environmental standards and surrounded by green outdoor areas
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- Ground floor plan with meeting area front left, performance space front right, activity room back left and cafe front right right but all internal layout can be changed as needs emerge.
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- Second floor has smaller rooms for activities including counselling, music, sensory room, meeting room and offices.
The existing Victorian buildings are dilapidated and deemed beyond realistic repair. The architects estimate the cost of restoring the buildings at £1.2m but would only produce rooms on the existing floor plan in a building that would still be difficult and expensive to run.
Stone from the old buildings will be used to create a new building that can be configured in different ways and used for different activities and produce a building fit for purpose as a youth hub for the future at a cost of £1.4m.
East Centre is owned by Northumberland County Council and the Partnership will apply for an ‘asset transfer’ on a similar basis to the Spetchells Centre which it built on the site of the former library 10 years ago,
The Partnership will have to raise the money for the new building and show it can run the building thereafter in order for the transfer to take place. The building is a potential home for a number of youth groups including Prudhoe Youth Project and Mortal Fools.
This is an exciting long term project both for young people and the town as a whole. Whilst we are sad to see the historic buildings go, they will make way for a striking new development on the main approach to the town and provide young people with first class new facilities”
The scheme is in its early stages and ideas are welcome. The Project will take several years hard work to complete. In the meantime, the youth work sessions at East Centre will continue to take place in the current buildings.