A Group of Driffield businessmen and women are looking to convert one of the town's empty warehouses into a new youth centre, café and sports venue.

Driffield and Wolds Future group chairman Stuart Wright is behind the scheme, along with the owners of Silks of Driffield restaurant and Talk of the Town café.

The £500,000 development was unveiled at a town council meeting.

Backers hope it will rejuvenate the area's café culture and offer a safe place for teenagers to visit.

Mr Wright, 57, of Beeford, said: "It will work as a new youth centre and community building.

"It will be made up of two floors, one with the youth facility, café and a crèche, and on the top floor we will have a sports arena with a boxing ring.

"Crèches are hard to come by, and Driffield is a rapidly developing area with new housing schemes on the way. Parents will need facilities like these."

Mr Wright said the idea for a boxing ring has been endorsed by Beverley-born professional footballer-turned-boxer Curtis Woodhouse.

The old warehouse was formerly used by the company Clark's Building and DIY Supplies.

Mr Wright said the scheme had been in the pipeline since its inclusion in the 2008 Local Plan.

He said: "We get problems with youngsters hanging around the town at night, where it's not safe.

"We need places for them to go in the evenings and be able to play games and chill out, which we had plenty of when I grew up here.

"People in this town have waited and waited for a facility like this. It's time Driffield joined the 21st century."

The chairman also said a financial backer had agreed to fund the site, although he could not disclose their name.

A formal planning application is due to be submitted to East Riding Council within the next two weeks.

 

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