THE city's YMCA will move to a new site in November, the Worcester News understands.

There is still no official word on where the homeless hostel will move to with the current Henwick Road building set to be converted into student accommodation.

A source close to the facility has told us this week it will close in November, though could not confirm where the new location is.

While last month YMCA Worcestershire development manager Catherine Steventon denied claims the new facility will only be open to those in education or employment.

Property company Purple Frog was given planning permission to turn the Henwick Road site into a 149-bedroom student block last summer, and hoped it would be finished next year.

But there has been no clarity since then on when the YMCA will be moving out or when work will begin for the conversion.

And, as reported last month, we understand the charity has no firm plans on where it will move to, with the building currently housing a reported 75 residents.

A spokesman for Worcestershire YMCA has said it is "exploring a number of housing options" that will "enable us to expand our accommodation offer within the city".

A former resident said they understand the new facility will be on the other side of the river and will be smaller than the current one.

"They are going to be strict on who they allow in there. You have to be in education or working," they claimed. The YMCA did not provide a comment regarding when it would move, before we went to print.