YMCA Wimbledon Redevelopment Begins

On Friday 23rd July, YMCA Wimbledon welcomed local stakeholders to an exciting ground-breaking celebration to mark the beginning of works to redevelop the site.

In December 2020, plans were approved by Merton Council’s Planning Committee, to transform the existing YMCA Wimbledon premises into a new state-of-the-art YMCA building, alongside an adjoining development of 135 new homes and two new commercial units at ground floor.

The redevelopment, led by YMCA St Paul’s Group and their development partner Thornsett, will enable YMCA to continue their work in the borough, which has been ongoing for the past 150 years, and to deliver wider benefits to the community.

Computer Generated Image of the new YMCA Wimbledon

The current building requires urgent modernisation. The scheme will provide 121 hostel rooms with en-suite bathrooms and cooking facilities, to help give residents a better quality of life and support them back into independent living. YMCA residents and the Wimbledon community will also benefit from new and improved, affordable facilities, including a gym, bigger studio space for fitness classes, a children’s area and brand-new YMCA café. The adjoining development residential development is expected to help address an under-provision of homes suitable for first time buyers in the borough.

Image of YMCA prior to redevelopment

Commenting on the commencement of construction, Councillor Eleanor Stringer, Joint Deputy Leader of Merton Council and Cabinet Member for Children and Education:

“I am delighted to be able to mark the start of a new future for the YMCA in the borough. It is exciting to see work begin to provide enhanced accommodation for vulnerable young people locally and to offer facilities that will benefit the whole community, as well as much-needed new homes.”

Richard James, CEO of YMCA St Paul’s Group, added:

“This is an extremely exciting moment for YMCA St Paul’s Group, our residents and the local community, as we break ground on the new YMCA Wimbledon. Our vision is to create places where young people thrive and communities flourish and this new state-of-the-art YMCA building will enable just that. We’re grateful to the local residents, Merton Council, Thornsett, Neilcott and Councillor Stringer for their support of this important development.”

Construction is expected to be complete by 2025. Find out more here.