Ed Sheeran to save his old youth club from closing

By Faye Mayern

Popstar Ed Sheeran is set to rebuild his old youth club with a gym and an art studio - saving it from closure.

The "Shape of You" star, 35, grew up in the small market town of Framlingham, Suffolk and was a visitor of club which announced it was shutting down on April 13.

But plans have now been lodged to overhaul the center, funded by Sheeran through a charity called Fram Fram.

In an artist's impression of the new brick-built centre, a young red-headed boy can be seen holding a guitar.

The new youth center would offer an art studio, rehearsal spaces, library, cookery room, garden, as well as a gym that would be open to the public.

The planning application stated that without the centre, there would be no long-term child and youth provision in the town which is home to more than 4,000 people.

The proposal added: "The proposals are considered to have huge community benefits, particularly in addressing the local need for youth facilities and full funding is in place for the proposed works.

"Subject to a positive determination, therefore, works could commence on site in spring/summer 2026."

A source told a newspaper that Sheeran saw this as a "passion project" and added: "He knows how valuable that sort of thing would have been to him when he was growing up".

The planning application, for land owned by Framlingham Sports Club, is awaiting a decision on permission.

Sheeran lives nearby with his family on the multi-million-pound estate dubbed "Sheeranville" which boasts its own pub and a recording studio.

The singer-songwriter also purchased two neighboring terraced cottages Walberswick on the Suffolk, and received planning permission to convert them into a single five-bedroom home.