Plans in for Grove Hill activity centre in Middlesbrough
A new children’s activity centre could be coming to Teesside.
Middlesbrough Council is considering plans which would see some of its own vacant brown field land transformed into a fun-filled activity centre for local children, run by North East-based charity Kids Kabin, which already has operations in the town.
The site is located at the end of a back alley, behind Thorndyke Avenue in Grove Hill. Numerous repurposed modular site cabins would be combined to make the indoor space, with plans showing there would also be outdoor space available, within the boundaries of the site. The facility would be in operation from Monday to Friday, throughout the day and into the early evening.
The charity wants to improve its offering in Middlesbrough and hopes for a “new, permanent home”. The proposed area is described as near to the charity’s existing site in the town. Kids Kabin take mobile trailer workshops into low-income neighbourhoods in Middlesbrough, but also in Newcastle, which sees young people have the opportunity to cook and learn woodwork skills, amongst other activities.
The application states the proposal is for a “single storey young people’s activity centre constructed from modular site cabin units,” on land to the south east of Thorndyke Avenue, on a Tarmacked area bordering the back of Thorndyke Avenue to the north, and the playing fields of Beech Grove School to the east.”
It is proposed that the facility would operate five days a week, from Monday to Friday, but not on weekends or bank holidays. Opening hours would stretch from 9am to 7.30pm, if plans are approved. The total size of the internal floorspace is set to measure 119 square metres.
Kids Kabin runs workshops for kids aged eight to 13 years old, and their mission statement says: “Kids Kabin works in low-income neighbourhoods in Newcastle and Middlesbrough. We work with young people and families to design and run enjoyable and rewarding activities. Our delivery is creative, practical, and accessible and we prioritise partnership work with schools, community organisations and businesses. We take workshops into neighbourhoods, delivering at Kids Kabin centres, on the streets and in community venues.”
No parking would be provided on site to keep vehicle access down the back alley to a minimum, plans say. Diagrams of the planned indoor area show an office, a wood workshop as well as pottery space. Additionally, there will be an art space, a kitchen as well as the necessities such as a storage room and three toilets. Positioned within the boundaries of the site, there would also be an outdoor space.