Sharpness Development LLP invites residents, businesses, and community stakeholders across Stroud to participate in a public consultation for the proposed Sharpness Vale new community. This initiative encourages community-wide engagement to help shape a new, sustainable community that meets Gloucestershire’s housing and employment needs while ensuring it aligns with the values and aspirations of the wider Stroud area.
The consultation, hosted by GreenSquareAccord and Lioncourt Strategic Land, will take place over two in-person events:
- Sharpness Village Hall on Friday, 15 November 2024, 2pm – 7pm and Saturday, 16 November 2024, 9.45am – 1pm
A virtual consultation is also available from 6 November through the project website at www.sharpnessvale.co.uk where participants can view detailed plans, ask questions, and submit feedback ahead of a planning application submission this year.
The Sharpness Vale development, designed for 2,750 energy-efficient homes with a target of up to 5,000 homes by 2050, supports Stroud District Council’s Local Plan and addresses the county’s pressing need for housing and local employment opportunities.
Laurence Clarke, on behalf of GreenSquareAccord, one of the largest social housing providers in the UK, remarked, “Sharpness Vale is designed to blend thoughtful, sustainable homes with spaces for work, leisure, and nature. We aim to build a community that supports local jobs, offers reliable green transport options, and ensures easy access to beautiful green spaces.”
Andy Faizey, Strategic Land Director at Lioncourt Strategic Land, added, “Our goal is to proactively engage with the entire Stroud community, inviting input from current residents in Berkeley and Sharpness and those who may call Sharpness Vale home in the future. We want this to be a community shaped by local values, including drawing inspiration from the River Severn’s environmental character. By listening closely, we aim to build a development that embodies the Council’s vision for the Sharpness area, serving both the needs of today and the aspirations for tomorrow.”
Sharpness Vale: key features
Key elements of the Sharpness Vale proposal, which will be highlighted in the consultation, include:
- Sustainable employment opportunities: The development includes a 10-hectare business park designed to support Gloucestershire’s knowledge and technology economy. The business park will feature an Innovation Hub and create up to 1,700 full-time and part-time jobs, providing space for start-ups, entrepreneurs, and established businesses, reducing the need for long-distance commutes.
- Improved transport and road infrastructure: Besides creating a central Mobility Hub for local sustainable transport options, like demand-responsive coaches, upgrades to local roads and Junction 14 of the M5 are proposed. These improvements will accommodate the growing community and provide residents with safe, convenient access to Gloucestershire’s wider infrastructure.
- Sustainable homes and green living: With energy-efficient homes powered by renewable energy, green corridors, and extensive public green spaces, Sharpness Vale prioritises sustainable living and community well-being.
- Natural neighbourhoods: Over 50% of the development is dedicated to green spaces, including wildlife reserves and natural habitats, to enhance biodiversity and offer residents outdoor recreation areas.
The feedback will be essential in shaping a planning application for the new homes that Sharpness Development LLP intends to submit to Stroud District Council by the end of 2024.