YMCA Bournemouth unveil huge redevelopment plans

Proposals to reinvigorate Delta House would see new temporary accommodation and community facilities delivered on the site.

The huge plans include refurbishing, repurposing and expanding the building fronting Westover Road, with the building fronting Hinton Road making way for a six-storey extension.

Gareth Sherwood, YMCA Bournemouth chief executive, said: “The building hasn’t got any younger and as a consequence a real intentional effort is being made to bring the building up to a standard by which it will create a longer legacy and will really bless the people that live here and certainly support the people that work here as well.

“My team here are brilliant. The work they do to support the people here and the particular skill set that requires. They are phenomenally compassionate and patient people that do the tough work day-in, day-out.

“It is a like trying to give Lewis Hamilton the wrong car. You wouldn’t want him to try to win a Formula One race driving a small hatchback. You want to give him a good car that suits the purpose.

“In the same way for these guys here, they do a really good job but the building doesn’t help them and there are times when it hinders them.”

The YMCA has been supporting people in Bournemouth for more than 100 years, with the current building being its base since 1931.

Mr Sherwood said in the current climate it was difficult to put a figure on how much the scheme will cost but he hopes it can be delivered within five years.

It will be funded through finance commitments from the YMCA, support from Homes England, fundraising and borrowing.

The development, if approved, would be staged to ensure minimal disruption to the ongoing work the organisation does.

A planning application has been submitted to BCP Council, which sets out the details of the scheme.

It will feature 108 ensuite rooms split over 13 cluster flats with shared cooking facilities and nine studio flats.

The street level commercial units will be reconfigured to form a café, while the public gym will be overhauled.

The plans include two additional storeys adding a seventh and eight floor on the Westover Road side of the site.

Delta House’s existing temporary accommodation entrance will move to Hinton Road.

Mr Sherwood added: “We have had quite a broad stakeholder engagement from the start with staff, some residents, local community, some of the council officer.

"We have tried to maintain a very broad input into the planning process to make sure the building we are planning really serves those people.

“The people that use it aren’t the afterthought, they are the primary thought. We have made sure as best we can that we have involved as many people who are going to benefit from it as we can.”