THE AREA around Stroud railway station along with one of the town’s main arts venues are to be revamped as part of a masterplan.

As part of its annual budget which was approved on Thursday, Stroud District Council has set aside £200,000 for a new project to revamp the vicinity of the station and the historic Brunel Goods Shed nearby.

This work - which had been part of the council’s failed levelling up bid - will involve acquiring a stretch of land to provide pedestrian and cycle access from the Brunel Mall multi-storey car park into the station.

It will mean that motorists can park at Brunel Mall and enjoy a pleasant route to the station.

Part of the £200k will provide £37,500 in partnership funding to go towards for the purchase of the Grade 2 listed Goods Shed, which was built in 1845.

A significant accessibility and modernisation project for the building including an external ramp and internal accessible toilets is planned by Stroud Valleys Artspace, which uses the venue to host a range of events and exhibitions.

An application to the Arts Council to support the project is planned.

The remaining funds will be used to purchase land owned by Network Rail adjacent next to the car park to create the planned pedestrian and cycle route.

Meanwhile, GWR is planning design work for the station forecourt and for the options of step free access across the platforms - although a spokesperson stressed this may not be a lift and could be ramps.

The SDC project involves key stakeholders such as London Continental Railways, Network Rail, Great Western Railway, Stroud Town Council and SVA.

An SDC document read: “Work has continued to realise the council’s vision for the railway station to create an enhanced ‘sense of arrival’ to the town and district and a higher quality public realm to encourage people to stay and dwell in the vicinity, forming better pedestrian and cycle routes through and creating an active, vibrant, art focused area around the improved Goods Shed.”

An SDC spokesperson said: "The budget of £200,000 will enable us to facilitate improvements at the station, to safeguard the future of the Goods Shed and to enable the work to continue with key partners to build on the vision for the station as an important gateway into the town centre."

Mayor Stella Parkes welcomed the news saying: “Stroud station is an important gateway to the town and district and in need of investment.

“It is listed in our neighbourhood development plan and so we welcome this news.

“The plans for the Good Shed look impressive and purchasing the land around it will help to develop an alternative way through to Brunel Mall."

Tony Davey, chair of Stroud Chamber of Trade, said: “It is positive to see the plans to better connect the Brunel Mall and the station being progressed.

"This gateway to the town certainly does need improvement.”

Stroud station manager Ben Scott said: “We are really keen to develop these plans and the district council commitment is to be welcomed.”