PLANS to transform a Cirencester building into one of the first youth hostels of its kind in the country have moved a step closer to reality.

A proposal to allow Cirencester art group New Brewery Arts (NBA) to transform its Niccol Centre building on Cricklade Street into a hostel that can accommodate up to 49 persons were passed by its owners the district council last year.

And now the council has provided a long lease for NBA on the building, which will allow the group to use it to 2106.

The Niccol Centre has been registered as an asset of community value under the Localism Act Regulations 2011, which means its use has to further the social wellbeing or interest of the local community.

The addition of a long lease on the building is a requirement under the register.

Ali Russell, chief executive of the NBA, said she was delighted it had been given a long lease as it had received a lot of public support for the project.

Currently the building is being used as a 70 seat theatre and part of the transformation plans include constructing a gabled two-storey porch that has a fully glazed frameless ground floor.

It is expected that the youth hostel will open in Spring next year.