Former YMCA set to be developed for housing

Jan 9 2013 by Liam Murphy, Wallasey News

Affordable housing scheme would replace Victorian building

WALLASEY’S former YMCA building is set to be partly demolished and redeveloped for housing.

Wirral Partnership Homes (WPH) have submitted plans for the Victorian building in Manor Road.

These include converting the older part of the site into nine flats and building six more homes – three pairs of two storey semi-detached houses – on land behind after the demolition of a sports hall extension built in the 1990s.

The plans would also see a new access road built, if the scheme is approved by Wirral council.

Originally built as a house in 1848 the site was taken over by the YMCA in 1899 who operated it for more than a century.

Over the years it was extended to provide a wide range of services including a gym and sports facilities, as well as acting as a meeting place for local groups.

However, lack of funding meant it was forced to shut its doors for the last time in September 2011.

With around 12,400 properties, WPH is the largest registered provider of affordable housing in Wirral.