Stroud may soon be more than just a place in the heart of iconic TV and film star Dame Joanna Lumley — it’s a place she now says she’d love to call home.
The Absolutely Fabulous legend unveiled a plaque at the King Street entrance of the Five Valleys Shopping Centre to mark the completion of its £31 million redevelopment, delivered by Yorkshire-based owners Dransfield Properties Ltd, who purchased the former Merrywalks centre in 2018.
Speaking to Stroud Times’ Faye Hatcher, the much-loved star said she’d love to live in Stroud. Watch the moment it’s revealed in our video with Dame Joanna.
Award-winning estate agent Whitaker Seager has welcomed Dame Joanna’s potential move to Stroud.
“We absolutely adore Joanna Lumley and are so touched that she seems to love Stroud as much as we do. It’s a truly special place with such a kind and welcoming community, and we’d be delighted to have her here anytime,” said Amy and Liz of Whitaker Seager.
She also cut a ribbon to mark the official opening of the centre’s latest investment, The Home of Vintage, a vibrant new marketplace bringing together more than 30 traders offering vintage, retro, upcycled and pre‑loved treasures.
Speaking at the opening, Mark Dransfield, Chairman of Dransfield Properties, said: “We are incredibly proud to have shared this moment with Dame Joanna, marking such an important milestone. We have been working on town centres for 32 years and this is our best achievement so far. We’ve always believed in putting town centres first – they are the heartbeat of a community. We want to create places where people can meet, connect and spend time together, and that is exactly what we have created at Five Valleys.”
After the official opening ceremony, Dame Joanna joined a VIP reception at Fat Toni’s Italian restaurant.
Dame Joanna added: “I love seeing places that once stood here – buildings that once housed Poundland and Woolworths – being transformed into something completely different. They haven’t lost their identity, they’ve been reimagined, and that is really something special.”
Chief Operating Officer of Montpellier Legal, Nick Ponting, who boast an office in the complex, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Joanna Lumley to Stroud. She’s every bit as warm, witty and charming as you’d hope. A true national treasure. And judging by the crowds, just a little bit more popular than my Christmas light switch on. Maybe we can get her in for an Episode of Who’s In The AMI.”
Dame Joanna spent four hours at the centre, meeting business owners, shoppers and the development team behind the project. She praised the vision for the new town centre and said she “simply adored” Stroud and the concept of The Home of Vintage.
Styled with colourful shutters and retro-inspired décor, The Home of Vintage brings together artists, makers, booksellers, home décor specialists, craftspeople and pre-loved fashion traders. A first phase opened in December 2024 and has already built a strong local following. This week’s ceremony revealed the full line-up of traders and completes Five Valleys’ redevelopment programme.
Dransfield Properties gave evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee inquiry into town-centre regeneration in 2024. Five Valleys is cited by the company as practical evidence of that work – a privately funded, mixed-use town centre anchored by healthcare, library services, leisure, independent retail and residential uses, rather than a single traditional retail anchor.
Stroud was named The Sunday Times Best Place to Live in the UK in 2021. The transformation of Merrywalks into Five Valleys has been delivered while the centre has remained open and trading throughout.
The redevelopment has rebuilt the King Street frontage, created a new upper mall, delivered residential apartments, introduced an indoor market and food hall, and added a £6.5 million NHS medical practice, opened by HRH The Princess Royal in March 2023. Stroud’s new town library sits alongside the centre, and around 85 per cent of Five Valleys traders are local independent businesses.
