LAST Wednesday (3 February) Watford's Community Sports and Education Trust and the London Borough of Harrow were delighted to receive the news that the planning application for the re-development of Cedars Youth and Community Centre was approved.

MyPlace is a multi-million pound government programme to deliver world class places for young people to go. The programme is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and administered by the BIG Fund.

A state of the art facility on the Cedars Estate has been designed by LOM Architecture and Design which will meet the needs of the local community.

The planning committee described this MyPlace project as having 'overwhelming support" from the local community. Local young people and residents on the Cedars Estate have attended ten consultation events during 2009 with Weald Tenants and Residents Association also involved as a community partner.

The concept for the building sets out plans for a unique development for the area that will be considerate to the environment, provide excellent communal space for its users and be protected from any potential vandalism.

As part of the planning application, a Green Travel Plan was included which demonstrated details of managing traffic, parking arrangements and encouraging users to utilise public transport, walking or cycling. The travel plan played an instrumental part in securing the planning permission.

The planned main entrance

Harrow-based youngsters will benefit from a positive environment, where they will be able to utilise their time to socialise safely, as well as develop new skills across a range of activities provided on the Cedars Estate in Harrow.

Cllr Christine Bednell, Harrow Council's portfolio holder for Children's Services, said "Local people have played a key role in designing this centre and their contribution has meant we have come up with a fantastic project.

"The Cedars Youth and Community Centre will not only be a first class facility for sport but will serve local residents for all sorts of other courses and events.

"I'm confident local residents of all ages will enjoy"

Watford's Neil Hart, Head of Community added: "We are delighted that the planning application has been approved and can now look forward to developing the scheme further, along with our partners the London Borough of Harrow and the local community.

"Our overriding aim is to deliver a world class facility that both young people and the community can be really proud off.

"We now need to focus our efforts on working with the BIG Fund (on behalf of the DCSF) to ensure the project funding can now be confirmed."