A YOUTH hostel which was saved from closure by the Wooler community is in line for a £600,000 revamp.
A planning application has been submitted to change the entrance and car parking arrangements at the Cheviot Street hostel and other refurbishment is proposed.
The Glendale Gateway Trust bought the hostel for £250,000 from the Youth Hostel Associat
ion (YHA) in July. It faced closure due to low visitor numbers.
Tom Johnston, Market Town manager at the trust, said: “The alterations will significantly improve the look and first impressions of the building adding a more suitable roof structure with wet weather provision.
“One of the conditions of purchase we agreed to with the YHA was that we would upgrade the hostel from a Visit Britain two-star rating to a three star. This involves mainly exterior work and is the biggest investment in the hostel since the creation of small family rooms in 1991.”
The trust has raised the money for the revamp which will be spent over two years.
The main common room/dining room will also be completely refurbished with a new stove, lighting and furnishings.
The next phase of improvements will involve making the hostel more energy efficient through better insulation and upgraded heating systems.
Funding for the purchase and renovation has come from the Northern Rock Foundation, NSP and the Lankelly Chase Foundation.
It was built as a land army hostel in 1940 and was adapted by the YHA in 1954.
