WORCESTER’s derelict former swimming pool will be sold to Sanctuary Housing and the YMCA after council chiefs rubber-stamped a deal to offload the site.
Members of the city council’s Policy and Resources Committee agreed to the sale last Tuesday, with legal and commercial details to be agreed by the council’s corporate director of finance and resources in consultation with the committee’s chair and vice chairs.
Sanctuary and the YMCA will now be required to carry out a public consultation on their proposals to use the 2.1 acre site for affordable housing, a business hub and flats designed for young people on the minimum wage.
Sansome Walk pool was closed in December 2016, just days before the new state-of-the art swimming pool opened its doors as part of the £10.5million revamp of Perdiswell Leisure Centre.
The site has been made secure and detailed plans are currently being prepared for the demolition of the pool building.
Sanctuary Homes intends to build 22 two-bedroom shared ownership homes at the site. These will be aimed at helping people get a foot on the housing ladder.
Alongside them, the YMCA will create a business hub, with facilities for people starting their own businesses, the self-employed and home workers, plus a communal enterprise space for meetings, job coaching, support and mentoring.
The YMCA also plans to build up to 76 accommodation units at Sansome Walk for 18-35 year-olds. They will include studio flats and one-bedroom apartments, with rents kept as low as possible, to help create the foundations for young people to prosper in their work, education or training environment.
More detailed proposals will be developed by the two organisations as part of their forthcoming application for planning permission to develop the site.
