Hundreds of jobs could be created at units in Stonehouse

The units - with a joint development value of £11 million - have the potential to provide hundreds of new jobs in a prime location close to the M5.

Developers were given the go-ahead to build the two units after gaining the unanimous backing of Stroud District Councillors.

Developer Robert Hitchins Ltd, via planning consultants DPP, had sought reserved matters approval to build the units of 53,500 sq ft and 22,000 sq ft at its Stroudwater 13 Business Park.

Discussions with a potential occupier for one of the units are well advanced and it is hoped that both units can be brought forward simultaneously with a start on site later this year. 

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Councillor Mark Ryder (Conservative, Hardwicke) welcomed the opportunity it will create for local businesses. 

"This is a very good scheme,” he said. 

Two new units could create hundreds of jobs in Stonehouse

Michael Plimmer, senior development manager at Robert Hitchins, welcomed the decision by Stroud District Council.

“Stroudwater 13 offers a great opportunity for new industrial, manufacturing and warehouse development, either on a freehold turnkey or leasehold basis, in an area which has been starved of any significant commercial development for some time due to the lack of available employment land.

“We are really pleased that the finer details of our scheme have now been approved enabling us to move forward,” he said.

“The development will provide modern, state-of-the-art facilities and important jobs for local people as part of a sustainable, mixed-use development.”

The six-acre site, close to J13 of the M5 and, just off the A419, already had outline planning consent for E(g), B2 and B8 uses as part of the Great Oldbury mixed-use development taking shape west of Stonehouse, near Stroud.

The new access and service roads to the Business Park and wider Great Oldbury development are also complete.

The site in Oldends Lane is prominently located off a new roundabout on the new link road between Stroudwater and the mixed-use Great Oldbury Scheme which comprises 1,300 homes and a local centre.