Pulse Consult Delivers New Youth Centre in Chadwell Heath to Boost Community Engagement

Pulse Consult has completed the delivery of The Rising Generation (TRG) youth centre in Chadwell Heath, providing a modern facility designed to serve local young people. The project has revitalised a building that had been unused for over 15 years, transforming it into a vibrant hub for youth activities and community interaction within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

The single-storey building spans 350 square metres and includes a flexible main community hall, outdoor areas, a digital media room, and a fully equipped catering and training kitchen. The centre’s design and vision were shaped in close collaboration with the local community, with input from more than 200 young people ensuring the space meets their needs.

Pulse Consult played a key role by providing project management, employer’s agent, and quantity surveying services. The £2 million project was funded through a combination of the UK Government’s Youth Investment Fund (YIF) grant and the Better Youth Spaces Fund.

Kai Walker, consultant at Pulse Consult, commented: “This project has delivered a vital, modern social asset for Barking and Dagenham, and we are incredibly proud to have guided its journey to a high-quality community space.”

He added: “By embedding our project management and quantity surveying expertise early on, we were able to successfully navigate the technical integration of renewable technologies and multi-use spaces. It reflects our wider commitment to delivering high-impact, public sector infrastructure that directly improves lives.”

The centre has undergone extensive upgrades to its fabric and services, positioning it to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. It is net-zero ready and incorporates high-efficiency air-source heat pumps, solar photovoltaic panels, and a 100% LED lighting system to ensure low carbon emissions and sustainable long-term operation.

This development is part of Barking and Dagenham’s broader investment in youth services, aligning with the Government’s National Youth Strategy aimed at enhancing and expanding opportunities for young people in areas of greatest need.

Cllr Dominic Twomey, leader of Barking and Dagenham council, said: “The new youth centre is absolutely incredible, it’s colourful, modern, and has fantastic facilities for our young people. It’s been so rewarding to see our young people already making great use of it and enjoying everything it has to offer. Thanks to all our partners who have been involved in making this happen, it’s another example of the investment we are making for our youth to help them get the best start in life. It starts here.”

The successful handover followed a collaborative process involving architects RCKa and the council’s development framework, ensuring the centre is fully equipped to support a range of local service providers, youth leadership forums, and charitable events for future generations.