A KEY Stroud gateway is set to be redeveloped by Stroud District Council.

Stroud District Council is poised to buy the 0.9 acre canal side plot at Bath Place, Cheapside - which has stood empty for decades - to provide much-needed homes.

Breathing new life into the site would help connect the two gateways of Wallbridge and the town’s railway station.

The plans also align with the Council’s Levelling Up Fund bid which would rejuvenate and transform key spaces into attractive destinations for residents, businesses, visitors and shoppers.

The brownfield site is currently owned by Newland Homes which has planning consent for 47 two-bed homes plus two retail units.

The site includes the fire-damaged Grade II Listed former canal warehouse which has consent for development as well.

Newland Homes has agreed to sell the site to Stroud District Council in order for the Council to bring forward wider regeneration and affordable, low carbon housing to this area of the town.

If the Council’s £16million-plus LUF bid succeeds, the council will have more flexibility to work on the site’s layout and housing types and tenures.

However, it still represents a chance to develop a strategic site and there is a strong business case for acquiring it and bidding for other external funding too.

Stroud District Council’s strategy and resources committee has recommended to Full Council to purchase the site for £1.3million plus £250,000 costs and next week on Thursday, July 21, Full Council will vote on whether to proceed with the purchase.

“This site has been left empty and boarded up but not for a lack of effort on Newland Homes’ part," Council Leader, Doina Cornell, who chairs the Strategy and Resources Committee.

"Bringing it back in to use will not only create much-needed new homes including affordable units, but create jobs and revitalise this corner of Stroud.

“We are grateful to Newland Homes for agreeing to sell to Stroud District Council.”

Deputy Council Leader Catherine Braun added: “Tackling the issue of stalled sites is part of our Council Plan, and developing this site would help draw the Wallbridge and Cheapside area together which is a key component of our bid to the Levelling Up Fund.”

Andrew Billings, Land Director for Newland Homes, comments: “We are fully committed to seeing this challenging site come to fruition and it’s time to pass the baton onto the Council to get it over the line.”

The report to Full Council can be read at https://stroud.moderngov.co.uk/ and the meeting is open to the public to attend or watch online.