THANKS to a grant of £60,000, a new community space will be created at the New Brewery Arts centre in Cirencester.

Funding from the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust means the NBA can create the bright and airy community room with state-of-the-arts facilities in  the old barrel store section of the buiding

It will including a large hand-crafted table, a soft seating area, white board and internet facilities and a self-catering kitchen.

And it is hoped that it will be used as a meeting space by groups and organisations in the area as a meeting space and teaching room.

Ali Russell, chief executive of New Brewery Arts said: "This grant from Gloucestershire Environmental Trust is amazing news. Their support towards the new community room in our Barrel Store development means we can create a great new space for the public and for organisations, so they can come to New Brewery Arts and be a part of all the creativity that takes place here."

The development is part of a proposal to turn an old brewery barrel store into visitor accommodation, enabling the arts organisation to create residential courses, ‘masterclass’ breaks, sessions for education groups and artists’ residencies.

It  will provide a space for guests to meet and relax during the evenings, create additional income for the NBA.

The Barrel Store development including the community room will follow Passivhaus design principles of low-energy efficiency.

The building is being developed with experienced local architects and contractors and working closely with the Cotswold District Council conservation team.

Chair of trustees of The Environmental Trust, professor Stephen Owen said: “As one of the largest distributors of capital grants in the county, we are delighted to be able to award a major grant to the New Brewery Arts. We believe that the barrel store project will have a long-term benefit for the residents of Cirencester and the wider county arts scene.”

The work is due to be completed by April 2016.

The Gloucestershire Environmental Trust provides grants from funds generated by the Landfill Communities Fund provided by Cory Environmental (Gloucestershire) Ltd, which owns and manages the waste management operations in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Cirencester.