The last twelve months have seen a major transformation of Stroud’s Five Valleys shopping centre.

Improvements have included the upgraded multi storey car park as well as the creation of new retail units.

High quality town centre apartments have also been created with work underway on more residential accommodation. The investment in the town to date totals more than £17 million.

At the heart of the project is the food market hall, with a line up of local artisan traders and food to go outlets.

A greengrocer is set to join the line up on Friday.

The centre is owned and managed by Dransfield Properties Ltd and the team behind the project are now focussed on the reopening of non-essential retail scheduled for April 12th which fits in with the planned launch of the centre’s new Sanderson’s Department Store.

A brand-new lift has also been commissioned, to take shoppers and visitors from the ground floor where The Vue Cinema can be found up to the top floor car park which also houses Stroud Bowl.

This summer work will start on the new medical centre, which will bring together Stroud Valley Family Practice and Locking Hill Surgery under one roof, alongside a range of other patient services.

The move will allow the practices to offer additional services, including minor surgery, mental health support, physiotherapy and social prescribing.

Managing director of Dransfield Properties, Mark Dransfield, said: “Though it has been an extremely difficult year for so many of our businesses we have stayed focussed on delivering a development which is fit for the post covid landscape.

“We have a truly mixed-use development here in Stroud with high quality retail units as well as new apartments which are being occupied as soon as they come to market.”

As well as the Sandersons Department store, a new café is due to open at the centre and further restaurant space has been created to increase the dining out offer.

A return to restaurants reopening will also see current food to go trader Non-Solo Pasta relocating to a larger unit in the market area to offer a full restaurant experience.

Mr Dransfield added: “Stroud is a fantastic market town; we are extremely proud to be investing here and feel confident that the mix of uses we have will create a vibrant town centre which will also be the catalyst for further improvements and investment.”