A former youth centre in Clifton will now be turned into provision for children living with special educational needs.
The facility will also reopen on evenings and at weekends for community uses.
Clifton Young People’s Centre, in Green Lane, was used as a community facility up until around February 2022.
Nottingham City Council, which submitted the plans, says an arrangement has been made with Nethergate Academy to bring children between the ages of 16 and 19 – and who are living with autism spectrum disorder – to the new specialist facility.
The plans, approved on Tuesday 30 September, will create 16 new spaces from October and up to another eight pupils from September 2026.
Clifton East ward councillor and leader of the Nottingham Independents and Independent Group, Kevin Clarke, said the area had been adversely impacted by the lack of youth provision on the estate after the centre closed.
“There is no youth provision on the estate. I’m pleased the centre is being reopened and re-purposed, but I’m a bit disappointed it wasn’t fully reopened as a youth centre,” he said.
The centre was given a £500,000 revamp by the council back in 2015, and the council said at the time it would “become an important hub for providing activities and services to children, families and the wider community.”
The centre featured a newly-refurbished dance studio and sports hall, and was equipped with a state-of-the-art music system, large screen TVs for gaming and films, table tennis, a pool table, air hockey and a music studio.
A new relaxation area and large kitchen were also installed to help young people learn to cook and prepare food.
It was later closed due to council budget pressures. Interest was shown by local community groups when the authority proposed to lease it, but any plans failed to materialise.
In May 2023, it was declared surplus to the council’s needs.
Planning documents say Nethergate Academy is further looking to partner with an experienced community group to provide community and youth provision during evenings, weekends and school holidays.
However, this is yet to be finalised.
“This has not yet been agreed with any particular provider; however, the ambition is that the southern entrance of the building will be exclusively let out to the community with access to a kitchen and café and seating area,” plans say.
“This area is completely separate to the school and there will be no cross-over during school hours. It is presumed that this community entrance will be open from 9am until early afternoon at 4pm, Monday to Friday.
“Separately, youth provision is likely to take place from 6.30 to 9.30/10pm Monday – Friday which will use some shared areas of the school, accessible by the southern community entrance.
“The types of provision is likely to include basketball, youth groups and adult exercise classes utilising the main sports hall and possibly the dance studio within the building.
“The building may also be used at weekends for youth provision and the community café from 9am to 4pm.”
The proposed ground and first-floor areas used by the school will be open from 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday during term time.
• Nottingham: £400,000 approved for two-year anti-vaping programme targeting under-18s