Surplus land for the development of the new Norwich bus station looks set to be handed over to the YMCA for the development of a new hostel.

Surplus land near the new Norwich bus station looks set to be handed over to the YMCA for a new hostel.

Norfolk County Council paid £2m for just over three acres of land around the old bus station and redundant Norwich Union buildings in 2002. With the redevelopment of the station completed in 2005, the remaining 1.2 acres are now to be made available for further developments.

These include a 34-place YMCA hostel to help the organisation move from its outdated premises in St Giles. The association is being given the land for free and it fulfils the council's obligation to use a proportion of the land for affordable housing.

A planning application is being considered by Norwich City Council. A second 32-bed hostel will be built elsewhere in the city.

The remainder of the land will be sold on the open market and a planning application has been lodged to build 70 flats, two retail units, a swimming pool and other leisure facilities.