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A key two months is approaching in the building of the city’s new Youth Zone.
Known as Vault, the new £11m development on land opposite Preston Bus Station, is to see the steel frame of the structure go up.
Piling and foundations work has been completed on the plot of land along Lancaster Road and Tithebarn Street.
Read more: Preston’s Youth Zone to be known as Vault as young people put spades in the ground
Run by charity OnSide the Youth Zone is also recruiting for a number of new full and part-time youth worker jobs.
Chief executive of Vault Youth Zone, Tim Jacques, said: “This is a really exciting stage of the Youth Zone’s development, both in terms of the building and also behind the scenes.
“We are offering young people two very important things; an incredible building with countless activities and opportunities and a team of dedicated staff members whose collective job is to ensure we give them all the support they deserve and unlock the potential within them.
“I can’t wait to see the building rise out of the ground and to recruit the brilliant people who will fill it with fun, passion and aspiration.”
Funding for the Youth Zone has come from a mix of Towns Fund money – secured for redevelopment of the city centre, Preston City Centre and the Department of Culture Media and Sports Youth Investment Fund.
Chair of Preston’s Towns Fund strategic board, John Chesworth, said: “There’s a palpable energy about the City now with the progress that’s taking place across the Harris Quarter. Vault will form part of the physical transformation of Preston, but more importantly it’ll contribute to the city’s social regeneration too.
“We’re really seeing significant change across the Harris Quarter, and as a Prestonian, I’m really proud of what’s being achieved.”
Read more: Preston Youth Zone work unearths items and mill site dating back 300 years
Vault was named by the Youth Zone’s volunteer development group made up of young people across the city.
They said: “After years of waiting, we are finally seeing our dreams come to reality. We are so excited for the future of Vault, to be part of the interview process, and to know that young people will soon enjoy this space.
“After all the hard work we did as a group, watching the frame go up will be amazing. This building will bring a place for young people to go, and we are thrilled to be part of this next step.”
The new building is to include a climbing wall, music room and recording studio, gym, indoor 3g pitch and many other facilities as well as a café.
Preston City Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, councillor Zafar Coupland, said: ‘This is going to be such an important facility for our young people and it’s great to see the building coming to fruition.
“In addition to providing young people with a safe place to come, it will also provide them with opportunities to develop and perhaps have such a positive impact that it may change their future.”
Vault is due to open during Autumn next year.
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