Developer pulls out of canal-side homes project

The developer was chosen for the project about three years ago, but has now been taken over by a US firm

A district council leader has said it is "really disappointing" the developer of a planned 150 home canal-side development has pulled out.

Developers St Modwen Homes were chosen to deliver the Brimscombe Port development in Stroud in 2022 but, after being bought by US firm Miller Homes, decided it would not continue with the project following a portfolio review.

About £5m of public money had been set aside for Brimscombe Port, which would also include canal-related tourism and employment uses.

Chloe Turner, leader of Stroud District Council (SDC), said the council will now look for a new developer.

Following a public consultation in December, St Modwen Homes was taken over by Miller Homes in January.

The site was allocated in the SDC Local Plan and included the reinstatement of the canal and basin to take it out of the flood plain.

SDC contributed £2.6m to the project at the former canal port, and government support totalling £2.7m was loaned by Homes England.

Ms Turner told the BBC: "Miller Homes don't share the same background in brownfield sites that St Modwens do.

"Unfortunately, Brimscombe Port was one of the projects they decided they don't want to go ahead with."

'Frustration'

Ms Turner said SDC will be planning "how we go forward."

"I have to say for the team at SDC, the team at St Modwens and for all of our local stakeholders who have been so committed to this project for so long, it's a lot of disappointment and frustration," she said.

"We will be moving as fast as we can because we don't want this site languishing. We want to be delivering homes and a really vibrant community so we'll be moving as soon as we can."

Ms Turner added it is "hard to identify a new timeline" for the project, for which ground was due to be broken in 2026, as the new developer will need to come up with a new planning application and arrange a consultation with the community.