Further details about waterside community revealed

Council leaders have agreed to buy commercial buildings, which will form part of a new waterside community

Stroud District Council agreed to purchase units from St Modwen Homes and set aside £630,000 for the Brimscombe Port project.

The site's is expected to include low carbon homes, cafes, commercial space, and a restored canal basin.

Catherine Braun, council leader, said: "As the destination at the end of the corridor, it is very important the commercial units provide that sense of place and are responsive to the needs of the community."

The units will be owned, managed and maintained by the council and let on a commercial basis, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

SDC already owns Brimscombe Port Mill as part of the wider port site and The Ship Inn.

Ms Braun told councillors at a cabinet meeting on 19 December: "We have already committed to purchasing social housing on the site and we are developing opportunities for the community to use the community facilities on site as well.

"This whole development has a real function in terms of placemaking for the wider area, not just Brimscombe and Thrupp but the whole of the canal corridor."

She said the council's ownership of the units will allow them to decide what kind of facilities they can have there and let them businesses and organisations which they think will provide a good fit with their vision.

Councillors voted unanimously to commit to the purchase and also agreed to delegate authority to officers to agree to the final terms.

SDC has contributed £2.6m to the project at the former canal port, and government support totalling £2.7m has been loaned by Homes England, and granted by the One Public Estate Programme to ensure the site is viable for development.

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