Hull City Council (HCC) has announced the start of construction work on the city's new youth centre, which will replace a former church hall on St George's Road.

Network - Young People's Centre (NYPC) will be able to cater for more than 1,500 young people and will include a café; media and arts spaces; a sports area and an external performance area. Hobson and Porter has been appointed to deliver the Salt Architects-designed venue, which will also provide alternative learning services. Hessle Road Network will manage the facility.

More than £1.2m has been raised to cover the cost of the project, with funding sources including the Youth Capital Fund Plus, HCC and Hull Forward, as well as Hull Primary Care Trust and Biffa. Neil Colthup, HCC's assistant head of service for youth development, said: "The local community, including local young people, have worked hard over a number of years to make this happen."