An Ipswich YMCA group offering supported housing to young people has applied for a conversion of its old gymnasium in a bid to "cope with increasing demand".

YMCA Trinity Group in Wellington Street has submitted a proposal to convert changing rooms in a "now redudant" 1960s gym into a workshop area and new shower room.

The plans have been put forward as the current workshop facility, which is located in the rear garden, is "not secure or fit for purpose" and takes up "valuable exterior amenity space".

It is hoped the proposed conversion would make better use of the gymnasium area while also freeing up the existing workshop site.

Application documents say: "The work of the YMCA Trinity Group in providing social housing, support and training is increasing and the current facilities cannot cope with demand.

"The current stores and workshop facility is contained within two large timber clad outbuildings in the rear garden which take up valuable exterior amenity space and are not very secure or fit for purpose and need to be replaced.

"The proposed work to the old gymnasium changing rooms makes better use of the site, releasing amenity area and being more secure."