Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has approved YMCA Bournemouth’s proposal to transform Delta House, its established Westover Road site, into new, high-quality temporary accommodation and public amenities.

The plans, submitted to the council in December 2022, include the complete refurbishment and repurposing of the site into supported homes, staff facilities, a public gym, and café. A replacement façade is also planned to be installed, helping uplift the overall building design and surrounding area.

Gareth Sherwood, CEO of YMCA Bournemouth commented: “I’m delighted that our plans have been approved.

“Delta House has helped tens of thousands of people in Dorset for nearly a century, providing warm, safe temporary homes and a range of support services to those in need. We want to continue its legacy by improving the quality and capacity of our accommodation and facilities to benefit more people. At the same time, we’ll retain the building’s existing character through a sympathetic enhancement of its historical features.”

Earlier this month, a GOV.uk survey found that Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is the local authority area with the third highest number of rough sleepers in England, with figures nearly doubling in Autumn 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.*

Gareth Sherwood continued: “Demand for supported accommodation in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is high, so our work at Delta House is critical. Our purpose is to help people rebuild their independence so they can pursue happy, stable lives without needing support. We do this through providing accommodation along with a multi-layered approach to support and activities to build whole lives for the whole of life in whole communities.”

Delta House is one of various establishments run by YMCA Bournemouth in Dorset. The charity’s portfolio also includes three children’s centres in Pokesdown, Queens Park and Townsend, a successful leisure centre in Broadstone, and a gym in Bournemouth.

Gareth Sherwood continued: “All our different services contribute to our wider operations at YMCA Bournemouth. For example, membership fees for The Junction Leisure Centre in Broadstone help us run other services, such as our youth and children’s work.

“The approval of our plans for Delta House marks another milestone moment for YMCA Bournemouth, as we celebrate record success across our portfolio. The fabulous Junction Leisure Centre hit its highest ever level of adult memberships in March 2023. Our current strong position means we can continue identifying new opportunities to grow and serve the Dorset community.

“I am hugely grateful to everyone who has helped us get to this thriving stage in our charity’s history. We have been able to achieve great things so far thanks to our community’s support, and Delta House’s reinvigoration is another exciting step in our growth journey.”

YMCA Bournemouth is aiming to begin construction works in 2024.

For further information about YMCA Bournemouth, visit https://www.ymcabournemouth.org.uk/.