Home / Arts and Entertainment / Empty Debenhams to Youth Hub for City of Culture Bid
Empty Debenhams to Youth Hub for City of Culture Bid
29 Jul
Summary
- Young people suggested turning an empty Debenhams into a youth space.
- Ipswich is competing for a £10m prize as a City of Culture candidate.
- Community consultations are underway for the bid submission.
Young individuals working on Ipswich's bid for UK City of Culture have put forward a creative proposal to repurpose the disused Debenhams department store. Their suggestion is to convert the prominent empty building into a dynamic, multi-purpose youth space. Ipswich is currently among nine locations that have advanced to the long list for this prestigious title, which includes a significant £10 million award.
Community consultations are being actively conducted to ensure that all resident viewpoints and innovative ideas are thoroughly integrated into the final bid document. An 18-year-old participant, Freya Walton-Phillips, highlighted that such a dedicated facility would provide young people with a sense of purpose and fulfillment, addressing a current gap in available resources.
