SHOTTON YOUTH CENTRE
SHOTTON PARISH COUNCIL
BACKGROUND
Shotton Parish Council, in collaboration with Shotton Partnership 2000, secured a £1.3 million Youth Investment Fund grant to enhance youth services for Shotton Colliery and surrounding villages. The goal was to transform the health, wellbeing, skills, and opportunities available to young people in the area.
Working closely with the local youth, the team identified their needs and interests. The vision was clear: a dedicated Youth Centre, built on the site of a former clubhouse in the Community Park. Once completed, the centre would provide support and activities for up to 150 young people.
OUTCOME
Our brief was to design a carbon-neutral, fully accessible, single-storey building that could adapt to a variety of uses. An open-plan layout was agreed upon, with flexible zoning options to accommodate multiple activities simultaneously.
A key priority throughout the project was ensuring young people played an active role in shaping their new space. Regular meetings were held with youth representatives, allowing them to contribute to design decisions, material choices, and even the bold colour palette used for the internal zoning. Internally, durable birch ply cladding was selected for a modern yet practical finish, while externally, a mix of Rockpanel Wood effects gave the building a contemporary look.
Achieving carbon neutrality was central to the project. The building was designed to generate as much energy as it consumes annually. Key sustainability features include:
Air source heat pumps and underfloor heating for efficient climate control
Solar PV with battery storage, ensuring maximum on-site electricity use
From initial sketches to full project management and construction, the process took 14 months. The grand opening of Shotton Youth Centre (SYC) brought together everyone involved in the project to celebrate its completion. Shortly afterward, the centre was awarded an EPC rating of A+, meaning it didn’t just achieve net zero - it went beyond, becoming carbon negative.
SYC now stands as a vibrant, energy-efficient hub for young people, empowering the next generation while setting a new standard for sustainable community spaces.
