Development of new waterside community takes major step forward

The development of a new waterside community in Stroud’s Golden Valley has taken a major step forward.

A key agreement, heads of terms, between Brimscombe Port landowner Stroud District Council and St Modwen Homes was approved last week and now people are being asked to give their views on the proposed development next month.
St Modwen Homes will hold a consultation event on Thursday, December 12 at Stroud Brewery and Taproom.

Once the development agreement has been signed, a planning application for low carbon homes, community facilities, commercial space, public realm and a restored canal basin is anticipated to be made in the spring next year.

Stroud District Council’s committee Strategy and Resources Committee was also asked to approve investing a further £630,000 in the site by buying and letting new commercial units which would form part of the development alongside around 150 homes.

The council has contributed £2.6m to the project at the former canal port. Government support totalling £2.776m has been loaned by Homes England, and granted by the One Public Estate Programme to help make the former industrial site viable for development, given the complexity of the work needed by the developer to take the site out of the flood plain, to address additional costs such as ground contamination, to reinstate the canal and port basin, to deculvert the River Frome and to install a new access road.

The site is allocated in the SDC Local Plan for 150 dwellings, canal-related tourism development and employment uses.

Emerging proposals for Brimscombe Port were consulted on in 2022, and St Modwen Homes has been working with Stroud District Council to progress the scheme.

Council leader Catherine Braun said after the meeting: “The Council has been working with community partners on the vision for redevelopment since 2004, so it’s very exciting that we are now close to completing the final development agreement.

“Community engagement is key to the success of this project and I am delighted that there is so much interest in this next phase of work. St Modwen Homes will be consulting before Christmas, and is committed to ongoing provision of information and engagement, which will include working with local schools and stakeholders. Information on project progress is also available on the Stroud District Council website, and people can join our Brimscombe Port mailing list for further updates.”

All are welcome to attend the consultation session between 3pm and 7pm on December 12 but anyone who can’t make it can submit their views at www.stmodwenhomes.co.uk/brimscombeport from that date.

Comments can also be emailed to brimscombeportconsultation@stmodwen.co.uk by Friday, January 17, 2025. The proposals can also be viewed at the council offices at Ebley Mill until the 17 January 2025.

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