New YMCA for Sidwell Street?

No need to feel down

Vacant land that was earmarked for a student accommodation development is now set to be used by the YMCA.

The largest and oldest youth charity in the world plans to convert a former retail storage site in Sidwell Street into 26 self-contained units for people seeking accommodation. It's at Acland Road, on land at St Sidwell’s Church, and follows demand for single-person accommodation, prompting the YMCA to review its housing provision in Devon. A planning application has now been submitted to Exeter City Council for an extension to create an additional storey, and for the change of use from retail storage.

A statement with the planning application says: “As a further part of YMCA Exeter’s housing strategy, suitable move-on accommodation needs to be identified early on for those residents who wish to progress into independent living, whilst still receiving floating support from the YMCA.

“In reality, in the absence of any such purpose built accommodation, many of the YMCA’s residents, past and present, have struggled to find suitable local accommodation at affordable rent levels and the YMCA are aware of how difficult this can be and the problems that are all too frequently caused as a result.

“The concept for the YMCA’s move-on strategy, and the proposal for Acland Road, is to provide self-contained units for single people who are able to manage living independently, though the YMCA would still provide support to those needing help with maintaining their tenancies, such as achieving financial independence, learning crucial living skills such as budgeting and cooking and accessing education, training or employment opportunities.”

The statement says that opportunities such as Acland Road are rare, development funding has already secured through Homes England’s Move-On Fund, and because at present there is a lack of YMCA owned move-on accommodation in Exeter and, because of this, some potential residents have been and continue to be reliant on private landlord units for move-on, which are relatively expensive to rent and not always in the best of condition or location.

It adds: “The proposed accommodation targets the intended groups of residents for independent living move-on accommodation, whilst still maintaining the levels of support required by the individual residents, as there is a long-term local demand for the accommodation to be provided.”

Exeter City Council planners will determine the application at a later date. The site currently has planning permission for conversion into student accommodation.