CIRENCESTER Town Council has unveiled plans for a new building following its closure of the Obelisk Community Rooms.

The venue in Cotswold Avenue, Cirencester, formerly known as the Scout Hut, ‘is no longer viable’ as a community venue, according to a town council spokesperson.

Before its closure, the building was home to the 1st Cirencester Scouts as well as Cirencester Men’s Shed.

“Due to rising utility costs and the current building being beyond economic repair, the Scout Hut, now known as the Obelisk Community Rooms, is no longer viable to remain open as a community facility,” the spokesperson said.

The council said that it will commission an architect to design a new building for the site so that it can apply for planning permission next year.

It added that delivery of the newbuild is expected in 2026 to 2027.

According to Cirencester Town Council, the council commissioned architects to design an eco community building as part of a broader masterplan for the Amphitheatre complex in 2013.

This included youth hostel accommodation to replace the Scout Hut.

The council added that while capital funding was not available to deliver the masterplan in full at the time, it now forms part of the council’s Green Spaces Strategic Review.

The organisation said that its vision for the Obelisk Community Rooms is a priority for delivery over the next few years.

“As part of our Green Spaces Strategic Review, we are working with the local community and former users of the Scout Hut to plan for an exciting new building of the future,” the spokesperson said.

The Standard contacted 1st Cirencester Scouts in relation to the Obelisk Community Rooms, but it did not wish to comment.

The paper also reached out to Cirencester Men’s Shed for comment, but it had not responded to the request as the publication went to press.