Stroud MP Simon Opher has described the decision to put lettings at Tricorn House on hold as “a shame” – but stressed that the future of the building remains a matter for its private owner.
Applications for apartments at Tricorn House have been temporarily paused, leaving prospective tenants who have already viewed properties and submitted offers waiting for an outcome.
Lettings agent CGT has since been instructed by owner Vilednik Holdings Ltd to temporarily pause the progression of applications while wider decisions concerning Tricorn House are considered.
Dr Opher said: “I am aware of the reports that lettings in Tricorn House have been put on hold, which seems a shame – but this remains a matter for the owner of the property.”
The landmark building at Cainscross was built in the early 1970s as offices for the Government’s Department of Health and Social Security before being vacated in 1996. It subsequently stood largely empty for decades and became increasingly derelict.
The building was bought by Vilednik Holdings Ltd at the end of 2022 and has since been converted into 44 residential apartments, with 34 parking spaces. The redevelopment was completed in 2024, with the flats subsequently certified as ready for occupation.
The future use of the building has been the subject of considerable interest locally. In 2024, a Government contractor approached the council about the possibility of using Tricorn House to accommodate asylum seekers. The Home Office later confirmed that it did not consider the building suitable for that purpose, and the council says the owners confirmed it was not available for asylum accommodation.
Stroud District Council has previously said its preferred use would be to provide accommodation for local homeless families and individuals, while stressing that the building is privately owned and decisions about its future ultimately rest with the owner.
Earlier this year, the newly refurbished apartments were marketed for private rent, with the first properties advertised at around £775 to £1,100 per month. An open day was held in May as prospective tenants were invited to view the development.
The latest pause in lettings therefore leaves further uncertainty over what will happen to the 44 apartments and when the long-empty landmark will finally become fully occupied.
