Expanding one of Europe’s largest outdoor activity centres

Client: YMCA England & Wales

YMCA Lakeside is a new residential activity centre on the shores of Lake Windermere, designed to significantly increase capacity for children and young people accessing outdoor education, residential experiences and skills development programmes.

The Challenge

YMCA required a modern facility capable of significantly increasing residential capacity while providing high-quality accommodation, teaching facilities and activity spaces within the Lake District National Park.

The development needed to support a broad programme of educational and outdoor activities while respecting its unique natural surroundings.

Our Solution

Conlon delivered a purpose-built residential and activity centre providing:

• 192 student bed spaces
• 24 teacher and youth leader bed spaces
• Four teaching and training rooms accommodating up to 50 people each
• Catering facilities and dining areas
• Social and recreational spaces
• Modern IT suite
• 12-metre indoor climbing wall
• Outdoor activity areas and covered learning spaces
• Infrastructure for a tented village accommodating up to 176 additional visitors

The Outcome

The completed facility has increased YMCA Lakeside’s residential capacity by approximately one-third, enabling thousands more young people each year to access outdoor learning, residential experiences and personal development opportunities.

The project achieved a Considerate Constructors Scheme score of 39/50.