Horizon Youth Zone in Grimsby represents a major step in the town’s regeneration strategy - the creation of a new civic campus that reimagines disused Victorian maltings and warehouses as a vibrant Youth Zone for young people. Designed and delivered by London-based architecture firm, John Puttick Associates, the new youth zone combines skilful heritage retrofit blended with new construction.

Situated in Grimsby’s town centre, Horizon Youth Zone represents a powerful symbol of regional renewal and optimism for the next generation. The L-shaped campus sits adjacent to the River Freshney, arranged as a series of refurbished and new purpose-built spaces where young people can gather, engage and thrive. Forming a key part of Grimsby’s wider masterplanning and regeneration strategy, Horizon brings new civic life to an area once defined by industrial decline.

The project is a continuation of John Puttick Associates’ ongoing collaboration with British charity OnSide. The practice first partnered with OnSide in 2015, winning a competition to design a new Youth Zone – which is currently on-site and due to complete in 2026 – opposite Preston Bus Station, which had an award-winning refurbishment by John Puttick Associates. The Grimsby Horizon project, secured through this partnership, began in 2018 with the vision of transforming a group of disused warehouses into a place offering a range of activities to the region’s younger constituents. 

From the outset, John Puttick Associates approached the project as a series of mixed-use buildings. The existing Grade-II listed riverside warehouses have long and varied histories. Beginning in 1821, the granary warehouses were constructed and later converted into a maltings, famously producing ‘Sandars’ malt by the 1960s. Over the years, the buildings also served as a billiards hall, sawmill, cake and seed warehouse and box factory before ultimately closing in the 1990s. The historic buildings have a strong civic presence and their revival marks a positive precedent for further development in Grimsby. 

For John Puttick Associates, Horizon Youth Zone required a highly complex and ambitious combination of reuse and new construction. The scheme unites two distinct components in an L-shaped configuration. The series of Victorian structures that line the River Freshney have been rebuilt and restored, while the charcoal-grey sawtooth sports hall, full-height climbing wall, performance space and teaching kitchen are housed in a 1,115 square metres new addition.

Entering via the pedestrian bridge across the river, visitors arrive at a triple-height central area, which flows into a café and recreation facilities. The striking volume forms the nucleus of Horizon Youth Zone, leading to activity rooms for arts and crafts, enterprise and wellbeing. Circulation routes were thoughtfully designed to overcome the structural constraints of the existing building. There is a clear and intuitive flow through the interconnected warehouses, allowing young people to access all spaces on offer. Specialist facilities include an inclusion room for those with complex sensory needs, and a hygiene suite for severely disabled young people. 

The newly constructed wing houses larger-scale functions such as the sports hall, climbing wall, and performing arts space. The zinc-clad sports hall, defined by its sawtooth roof, draws inspiration from the site’s industrial character while introducing diffused north light to the interior. The roof’s south-facing slopes incorporate photovoltaic panels and wind catchers that naturally ventilate the space. A tall, metal-mesh volume encloses the climbing wall, creating a dramatic play of light and shadow, while a single-storey performance space completes the new building. John Puttick Associates have combined modern, durable materials such as dark grey brick and expanded aluminium mesh cladding with original details to create a cohesive architectural dialogue. 

Externally, the restored Victorian masonry facade, characteristic slate roofline, and refurbished footbridge rejuvenate the riverside townscape. An outdoor area with a football pitch, skate zone and raised planters, sheltered by the L-shaped plan, provides multipurpose outdoor space to the north.

John Puttick Associates’ deep retrofit celebrates the character and texture of the original warehouses. Large arched openings and a distinctive pattern of windows were restored and reconstructed to revive the original structure. Bricks salvaged from dilapidated warehouses were reused to rebuild the ageing river wall, while internal brickwork and timber trusses were left exposed where possible to highlight the spirit of the building. 

Environmental performance was central to the design, with retention of existing structure, material reuse, photovoltaic panels, wind catchers and enhanced insulation achieving a 54% improvement in energy efficiency over a benchmark building of its type without the improvement measures.

Throughout the process, John Puttick Associates worked closely with OnSide, Horizon Youth Zone, North East Lincolnshire Council, Historic England, and importantly, local young people to shape a building that reflects their identity and aspirations. Horizon Youth Zone is a robust, inclusive and imaginative piece of civic architecture that fuses history with hope - transforming Grimsby’s town centre into a place that serves, supports and encourages its young people.

Team:

Architect: John Puttick Associates 
Form of contract/ procurement route: Design & Build (JPA novated)
Client: Horizon Youth Zone
Conservation Architect: Seven Architecture
Structural engineer: Ramboll and Craddys
M&E consultant: TACE
QS: Walker Sime
Project manager: Walker Sime
Principal designer: Jacob Feasey Associates
Approved building inspector: Clarke Banks
Fire consultant: Clarke Banks
Main contractor: Hobson & Porter

Photographer:© Gareth Gardner