The Club at Tuffley Park looks set to be reopening soon with new tenant

A popular Gloucester venue could soon reopen with a new tenant. Gloucester City Council is poised to lease the Club at Tuffley Park to One Church.

They say the group has a proven record of delivering projects already in the area and are financially secure. The property requires works to the roof to make it watertight and also for statutory tests undertaken to ensure the building is compliant on handover.

The council estimates this will cost around £50,000. Renting the property is expected to provide an annual income of £10,000 per year for the authority. The repair works have already been budgeted for the current financial year.

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The council retook possession of the building in August 2023 after the previous tenant got into financial difficulties - and people’s wedding parties and other events were cancelled at short notice. Civic chiefs told a public meeting last year that this fiasco may have cost taxpayers £160,000 in rent arrears and unpaid bills.

The building was considered suitable for a community asset transfer due its nature and its location. And open days were held at the property for interested parties and they were asked to submit an application.

Nine were received and a group consisting of the performance and resources cabinet member, Councillor Sebastian Field (LD, Podsmead), a community wellbeing officer and the authority’s investment manager considered them. They came up with a shortlist of three who were asked to submit further information.

Cllr Field: "I am delighted that a potential tenant has been found for the Club at Tuffley Park. The whole local community was sorry to see this facility close in August 2023.

"Since that time I have been working hard with the city council to find a new tenant for this important community building. The council received a number of applications from interested parties, and these were discussed by officers, me and the former cabinet member for performance and resources.

"The application from One Church, who are the officer-recommended choice for a tenant, was a strong one, having regard to the council’s community asset transfer policy and local plans, and placing a heavy emphasis on community use.

"It offered a number of facilities for local people, but complementing not competing with the existing offer. The application was also supported by local partners such as Blackbridge CCBS and Podsmead Big Local.

"I look forward to seeing the Club back in use, as soon as terms are agreed and essential repairs are carried out."

The authority's overview and scrutiny committee is due to look over the proposals and quiz civic chiefs at their meeting on July 1