A long-running community campaign has secured a major victory after Stroud District Council approved the transfer of land at the former Ship Inn pub to Stonehouse Town Council.
The decision, made at a recent Strategy and Resources Committee meeting, brings the long-vacant site into local ownership for community use after almost 30 years of uncertainty following the demolition of the Ship Inn in 1997.
The land had previously been identified by Stroud District Council as a potential location for affordable housing, a proposal that attracted significant opposition from local residents. Instead, the community overwhelmingly backed plans for a public space. A Stonehouse Town Council survey in 2021 found that 95% of respondents supported the creation of a community hub featuring a café, shop, gardens, parking and boat moorings to complement the ongoing restoration of the Stroudwater Navigation.
The Ship Inn Project Stonehouse (ShIPS) has been campaigning for a community-led future for the site since 2018. In recent years, Stonehouse Town Council secured a licence from Stroud District Council allowing community access while local enterprise group Ship Inn Community Enterprise (SpICE) consulted residents and developed a business plan for the site’s future.
During that period, volunteers transformed the neglected space by clearing the land, improving accessibility, installing toilet facilities, tables and benches, and welcoming local refreshment vendors, demonstrating the site’s potential as a vibrant community destination.
Marcus Dixon, Chair of Ship Inn Community Enterprise (SpICE), said: “We are delighted by the decision, which marks another important milestone in what has been an eight-year campaign by local residents, supported by the Town Council, to secure this land for the people of Stonehouse.
“The decision gives us a firm foundation to move forward, continue working with local schools and businesses, and create a flagship community project that shows people power really can make a difference.
“Our next goal is to introduce permanent facilities and strengthen the connection between the site and the town centre so that, as the canal restoration progresses and more visitors arrive by boat, they will stop in Stonehouse, visit the High Street and support our fantastic local businesses.”
Councillor Chloe Turner, Leader of Stroud District Council and Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee, said: “Approving this proposal demonstrates our continued commitment to working in partnership with community organisations to deliver positive outcomes for our residents. Community asset transfers can unlock local innovation and ensure that valued spaces are managed in ways that directly benefit the community.”
The transfer represents a significant step forward for both the canal restoration project and Stonehouse’s wider regeneration ambitions, with the community now able to develop permanent facilities that will serve residents and visitors alike for years to come.
