MERTON COUNCIL SUPPORTS OUR VISION TO TRANSFORM YMCA WIMBLEDON
YMCA St Paul’s Group, and our development partners Thornsett, are delighted to have received a resolution to grant permission from Merton Council to deliver a brand-new YMCA hostel in Wimbledon, alongside an adjoining development of 135 new homes.
Following years of hard work to secure the future of the site and create a scheme that we can be proud of, members of Merton Council’s Planning Committee voted to approve a resolution to grant planning permission for the scheme at their meeting on Thursday 10 December.
The proposals will deliver a new state-of-the-art YMCA building, replacing the current YMCA Wimbledon at 200 The Broadway, which urgently requires modernisation. All 121 hostel rooms delivered will be en-suite and shared kitchen facilities will be installed on every corridor. This will help to give our residents a better quality of life and support them back into independent living.
YMCA residents and the Wimbledon community will also benefit from new and improved, affordable facilities, including a gym, bigger studio space for fitness classes, a children’s area and brand-new YMCA café.
The adjoining development of 135 high- quality new homes will financially support the redevelopment of the YMCA and help to address the under-provision of homes suitable for first time buyers in the London Borough of Merton. Two commercial units will additionally be delivered at the ground floor, activating the street frontage along The Broadway and creating local employment opportunities.
The scheme has been informed by comprehensive engagement with our neighbours and stakeholders in the local community, who we look forward to welcoming to the new YMCA once complete.
Richard James, CEO of YMCA St Paul’s Group said:
“We are thrilled to have received this positive endorsement from Merton Council to redevelop YMCA Wimbledon and deliver a brand-new centre that we and our residents can be proud of.
Our proposals will provide much-improved accommodation for young and vulnerable people in Wimbledon, helping them back into independent living and to lead more fulfilling lives, whilst also offering improved services and new, modern facilities for the wider community.
YMCA has had a presence in Wimbledon for 150 years – about as long as the All England Club! – and planning permission for this fantastic new building will help us to continue to carry out our work here for many more years to come.”
Gerard Cunningham, Executive Chairman of Thornsett, added:
“Thornsett has been working closely with YMCA St Paul’s Group for the past two years to design a scheme of exemplary quality, which meets residents’ needs.
We are delighted that Merton Council has given us the green light to deliver our plans, which will offer 135 high-quality homes for the borough, alongside the brand-new YMCA centre.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with the YMCA, the Council and local residents to deliver the scheme and the many benefits it will offer.”
YMCA St Paul’s Group and Thornsett will now be working closely with Merton Council to deliver a S106 agreement and secure full planning permission for the scheme. Our aim is to complete phase 1 of the development for the new YMCA in Q2 2023 and phase 2 of the development for the private residential units in Summer 2025.
The current YMCA Wimbledon building
Our proposals
Redevelopment of YMCA Wimbledon will enable YMCA St Paul’s Group to continue their work in the borough and to deliver wider benefits to the community.
Our proposals comprise of:
A new state-of-the-art YMCA centre, featuring 121 hostel bedrooms with ensuite bathroom facilities and shared cooking spaces, giving residents a better quality of life and promoting independent living.
Modern facilities for the wider community including an upgraded gym, enlarged studio space for our popular fitness classes, a new children’s space, and a brand-new YMCA café.
An adjoining development of 135 high-quality new homes (1 x studio, 108 x 1-beds, 25 2-beds and 1 x 3-bed), which will help address the under-provision of homes suitable for first-time buyers in town centre locations and financially support the redevelopment of the YMCA.
Two commercial units at ground floor, which will activate the street frontage along The Broadway and create employment opportunities.A flexible, landscaped public open space
at the front of the site, creating a safe and welcoming place for the community to enjoy.
Sustainability features and measures throughout, such as a heat pump solution and PV panels, in order to aim towards a 100% carbon reduction.
Delivery of a building of much higher architectural quality, worthy of being in this town centre location and a future asset to the borough.
Our vision
Overall, our vision for the new YMCA Wimbledon is to provide a valued asset for the whole community where our residents and the neighbouring community can be truly valued, and thrive.
Computer Generated Image of the New YMCA Wimbledon
