A DEAL to turn the city’s YMCA hostel into student accommodation appears to have been put on hold with the site back up for sale.
Property company Purple Frog was given planning permission to turn the Henwick Road site into a 149-bedroom student block in summer last year and hoped it would be up and running in 2020.
The firm had submitted an application on behalf of the owner and developer of the site, PFHD (Worcester) Ltd which is hopeful a buyer will emerge in time to "commence works" in the New Year.
The YMCA, which is understood to accommodate around 75 people, was apparently set to move to another city site in November, though had refused to reveal where.
The site has been listed by agents Knight Frank at £2,890,000, with the advert stating it has planning consent for conversion into student accommodation.
READ MORE: YMCA's future unclear with site due to be converted into student housing
The plan, as of July 2018 when it went before the city council, was for the listed building, which dates back to 1868, to house 87 students and a new building to provide 62 bedrooms and be largely screened from the road.
The scheme also featured a gym, a cinema room, study facilities, laundry service, communal spaces, en-suite rooms and 42 studio flats, all built with the city’s growing student community in mind.
A PFHD spokesman said: "Having successfully obtained planning permission for a high quality student residential scheme on the site of the YMCA in Henwick Road the Board of PFHD Worcester have instructed Knight Frank to market the scheme.
"It is anticipated that the successful buyer will commence works in the New Year. Full details and particulars for this unique opportunity can be found on the Knight Frank website."
A spokesman for Worcestershire YMCA said over the summer: “We are currently exploring a number of housing options within Worcester city, that will enable us to expand our accommodation offer within the city once we move from the Henwick Road site." A University of Worcester spokesman said it is not involved in the scheme.
READ MORE: Council probe into city YMCA after complaints by teen whistleblowers
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