(18010) - East End Youth & Community Centre - To install air source heat pumps

East End Youth & Community Centre has been in existence since 1976, however, its current status as a charitable incorporated organisation began in 2012. The centre is primarily a flat roof low level building; however, the large hall does have a high ceiling. There is also a large kitchen/ diner, two separate meeting rooms, dance studio, fitness room, pool/games area, treatment room and an admin office.

The large hall which is in demand is not heated and at times is so cold the applicant is unable to rent it out particularly to smaller children and older exercise groups. It has recently had cavity wall insulation installed and is having photovoltaic panels installed which, if successful with this application, the power generated by the panels will drive the air source heat pumps to heat the hall.

Existing user groups at the centre are after school kids clubs, Zumba, healthy cooking, dance class, knit and natter, slimming group, Little Ninjas, sports massage, a young people’s group, polling station, local authority housing drop in, parent and toddler, home education group, Viking reenactment, people’s health alliance, yoga and pilates.

The applicant has gathered feedback from current users and held open days asking what the local community wanted to see happening in the centre. Uses for the hall and availability came high on the feedback. Currently in the summertime the hall bookings run at an average of 89% but once the weather changes at the worst time the rental can be as low as 23%. The nearest type of facility is within 1.5 miles of the centre.