Stroud District Council’s vision for new Stroud town centre homes is starting to take shape.
Creating new energy-efficient homes on brownfield land is a council priority and the latest plans are to develop two sites near Stroud railway station. It is hoped that the development would also bring about much-needed improvements to the railway station.
Working with partners the vision is to create new homes, better access to the railway station, the canal and the town centre. The development would also bring investment to improve the public spaces in and around the station area, creating a better experience for people arriving in the town.
“This new vision for investment at Cheapside by Stroud station presents an opportunity for regeneration in line with the town’s ambitions and could allow for energy efficient and affordable new homes close to the station and canal. A new community of Stroud residents at this location would also be just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre, with easy access to all its events, markets and local businesses,” said Stroud District Council Leader, Catherine Braun.
The redevelopment of the whole area around the station including the Cheapside area is included in Stroud Town Council’s Neighbourhood Development Plan. The Coal Yard previously received planning permission for 47 apartments and the redevelopment of the car park has been consulted on as part of the Local Plan Review.
Stroud District Council bought the site, The Coal Yard, bounded by Wallbridge, Hill Paul and the canal in 2022 to develop it after it had lain derelict for many years. The council also owns half of the Cheapside car park. Network Rail, which owns the other half of the car park, is looking to release land for development and has agreed that the money from the sale will go to improving the railway station.
Stroud District Council has more than 1,200 car parking spaces in, and on the edge of Stroud town centre, and Cheapside car park forms less than 200 of that total. More town centre spaces are provided by GWR at the train station and the Five Valleys Shopping Centre.
Cllr Braun added: “We understand that there may be some concerns about a reduction in parking spaces, so we’ve commissioned an independent study on car parking use, which will feed into the project decision-making process and determine the extent of redevelopment. In addition we plan to open up the Brunel Mall multi-storey car park to provide easier access to the station, and improve the area between the car park and the station with The Goods Shed, a Stroud Valleys Artspace venue being a key part of the future plans.”
SDC is working with partners including Network Rail, Great Western Railway, London Continental Railways, Stroud Town Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Cotswold Canals Trust and Stroud and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce.
To comment on the Council’s vision at this stage, please email Stroud.StationQuarter@stroud.gov.uk by March 19, 2025.
The next stage in the decision-making process is for SDC’s Strategy and Resources Committee to consider the Output Specification (what any developer would be required to build) for land owned by Stroud District Council, on April 3rd. Subject to approval at that committee and once a developer has been selected, a consultation will be launched on their proposals, looking at how the Council’s land will be used. The Output Specification can be viewed here: Cheapside redevelopment
Network Rail is Britain’s largest owner of brownfield land and it is aiming to build thousands of homes nationwide to help fund station upgrades.
Robin Dobson, Network Rail Group Property Director says: “Working with partners and the public and private sectors to deliver much-needed housing in the most sustainable locations is a key priority for Network Rail Property. And through delivering housing on brownfield land we can unlock investment to improve national rail infrastructure which is key to promoting sustainable growth.”
