The Five Valleys Shopping Centre is celebrating a landmark year of development, investment, and growing footfall, marking a positive turning point for Stroud’s town centre.
Mark Dransfield, the owner of Five Valleys says the past year has been “a very big year” for the destination, with several major projects completed and more on the way.
The transformation of the Five Valleys Food Hall was finalised this year, delivering a more sophisticated and fully immersive experience for visitors. The next major addition is the eagerly anticipated Home of Vintage, set to become the largest vintage retail destination in the UK. The first phase opens next week, with phase two launching in February and a full grand opening planned for Easter 2026.
Alongside retail and leisure developments, new office spaces have been completed and architectural work on the centre’s gallery area has been finalised. Dransfield says the centre is now entering the final stages of its long-term redevelopment plan, with around six months of work left to complete the wider vision.
Despite national economic challenges, Dransfield is optimistic about Stroud’s future. “Stroud, at long last, has started to turn a corner,” he said. “Our footfall is up, car parking numbers are up, and that’s washing through to the town.”
A wave of investment is contributing to Stroud’s renewed momentum. Recent additions include the pending refurbishment of the former Barclays Bank building—set to welcome two new shops and apartments—the impressive Stroud Hotel by the railway station, and a new housing application for a prominent town-centre corner site.
Footfall at Five Valleys has risen from around 30,000 visitors per week to over 50,000, with strong Saturday markets and increasing visitor numbers arriving by train from surrounding regions including London and Swindon. Additional investment in the arts is planned, with the centre applying for Arts Council funding to support new installations and collaborations with local artists.
Looking ahead, Dransfield remains measured but hopeful. “We’re greeting 2026 with caution because of today’s budget, but overall I believe we’ll make strong headway next year. Stroud is growing, developing, and attracting real investment. We want this town to be a big success—for the people who live here and the people who trade here.”
