Historic Hotel Set to Get New Life as State of the Art Village for Young People
Councillors will consider the ambitious plans which are the brainchild of Marksteen Adamson, founder of Cheltenham Creative Agency, Asha & Co, at next month's cabinet meeting.
The proposals could see the historic Fleece regenerated and the car park redeveloped to make way for the scheme called the Phoenix Village Project.
Focused on disenfranchised young adults, the project will offer supported accommodation with skills training and assistance with health and mental health issues to help them reach their full potential.
It’s proposed that the village complex would have spaces set aside for wellbeing and socialising, along with independent businesses set up to give them on site experience.
The Fleece Hotel was first opened in 1497 as one of the three inns for pilgrims visiting the tomb of Edward II. The site includes part of a Grade I listed 12th century vaulted undercroft and Great Inn.
It closed as a hotel in 2002 and ownership passed to the council in 2011 that has since invested £350,000 to protect the buildings.
The new 400 space car park at The Forum will help alleviate the loss of Longsmith Street carpark, with the council looking at other options in the city to increase car parking.
If given the go-ahead the council will work to attract funding for the Phoenix Village Project which could become a key destination with pop up retail, food and drink offers.
Councillor Richard Cook, Leader of Gloucester City Council, said: “This is an exciting and really worthwhile project aimed at making a real difference to the lives of our young people. We know how challenging it is for young people today and many of them need a helping hand to be able to turn things around. Not only could this scheme make good use of a much loved historic building but it will hopefully become a destination and another part of the massive regeneration taking place across our city.”
Marksteen Adamson, Founder and CEO of The Phoenix Village Project, said: “Many young people today are lost and have little hope. The Phoenix Village project has been created to provide purposeful activity, accommodation, training, and support. The programme will be focused on Creative, Professional, and Personal development. It’s a proven holistic approach that delivers practical solutions for Mind body and Soul. We will bring in new technology partners to give young people the opportunity to innovate for the future. If we want to see less crime in our cities, we need to give young people hope, opportunity and purposeful activity to make them grow in confidence, equipped with life skills, and enable them to become productive members of society. We’re not here to make a million. We want to reach a million young people”.