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Chorley’s young people are a step closer to having their new OnSide youth facility as the planning application to build ‘Inspire’ Chorley Youth Zone’, was yesterday approved by Chorley Council.

Our Youth Zone is to be built on Railway Street, where The Arts Partnership and Leigh Arms currently stand in the centre of Chorley and will be a place where young people can reach their full potential, grow their dreams and achieve their goals. It will be a safe and supportive community for young people to belong and be themselves.

Expected to open in 2017, our Youth Zone will offer up to 20 activities every evening for young people aged between eight and 19, up to 25 for those with a disability, including; dance, sport, art, music and media. Inspire will cost young people just 50p per visit.

The planning consent is a significant milestone in the development of Chorley’s new Youth Zone and the dreams of our local young people are now closer to becoming a reality.

Andrew Turner, Chairman of the Chorley Group and Chorley Youth Zone Chair, commented:

“A lot of hard work went into preparing the Youth Zone’s planning application and we are delighted that hard work has now paid off. The potential the Youth Zone has for the whole town and its future generations is unprecedented – it will change the lives of thousands of young people. The young people of Chorley want and need this facility and with the planning application given the green light, we can now look ahead to construction work commencing.”

 Cllr Alistair Bradley, Leader, Chorley Council, said:

“As a major partner in this project, Chorley Council is thrilled the Youth Zone is moving forward. The opportunities it will offer young people from sports to media, arts and preparing for work are hugely exciting. Not only will it offer a safe and inspiring place for young people to meet, the Youth Zone will play an important part in helping to raise young people’s aspirations, provide jobs, and help them achieve their true potential. The project will benefit the whole town and we look forward to seeing it take shape.”

The Youth Zone will cost approximately £4.3million to build and £650k to run annually.

We have been working alongside Chorley Council, Lancashire County Council and The Arts Partnership to make this dream a reality for thousands of young people.

Construction work on the Youth Zone will start later this year.

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