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Stroud's historic Old Town Hall is set for an exciting new chapter after Stroud District Council's Strategy and Resources Committee approved plans to transfer the landmark building to Stroud Valleys Artspace (SVA) for a nominal sum.

The decision paves the way for SVA and Stroudwater Textile Trust (STT) to develop a Centre for Textile Arts in the heart of Stroud, creating a permanent home for the Trust and a major new cultural destination celebrating the district's rich textile heritage.

Bringing together two organisations with a strong track record of managing historic buildings and delivering community-focused arts and cultural projects, the partnership aims to create "an artist-led creative space where contemporary textile and creative practice can flourish alongside displays and activities amplifying the story of the region's textile heritage".

The Old Town Hall is one of Stroud's most recognisable buildings. Located in the historic Shambles in the centre of town, the Grade II* listed property includes elements dating back to 1596 and has played an important role in the town’s history for more than four centuries.

The Centre for Textile Arts would help secure a sustainable future for the building while opening it up for wider community use. It would create a vibrant centre for arts, culture and learning, celebrating the textile heritage of Stroud's famous woollen mills, while drawing visitors into the heart of the town.

Cllr Chloe Turner, Leader of Stroud District Council, said:

"The Old Town Hall is one of Stroud's most treasured historic buildings, and we are delighted to have found a proposal that both protects its future and strengthens its role within the community.

"This project supports one of the key priorities in our Cultural Strategy and Action Plan by helping to break down barriers to culture and provide more equitable access to arts, heritage and creative opportunities across the district.

"The vision put forward by Stroud Valleys Artspace and Stroudwater Textile Trust will preserve an important heritage asset while creating new opportunities for learning, creativity, participation and economic activity. We look forward to seeing the building brought to life in new ways for residents and visitors alike."

Trevor Ford, Chair of Stroudwater Textile Trust, said:

"Laurie Lee, author and poet, said of Stroud’s Five Valleys, ‘There’s nowhere else like it on earth’. Stroud’s fame was international, its fine woollen cloth exported and traded across the world. Our scarlet cloth was prized throughout Europe, North America and Scandinavia, and even in India and China, where the Chinese Emperor was proud to be robed in Stroud cloth.

We are enormously grateful to Stroud District Council for giving us a home where we shall be able to celebrate Stroud’s amazing textile history."

David Elford, Stroud Valleys Artspace Trustee and Project Manager, said:

“Stroud District Council’s support for this exciting venture highlights the enduring significance of textiles to Stroud and the surrounding valleys. Textiles constitute a universal and creative language, with the power to engage and inspire people of all ages. In partnership with the Stroudwater Textile Trust, Stroud Valleys Artspace looks forward to establishing a venue of regional significance - one that champions the work of textile designers and makers, brings their practice to a wider audience, and offers an exciting and inclusive programme for the whole community.”

For Stroudwater Textile Trust, the transfer represents the culmination of a long-standing ambition to establish a permanent base for its collections and activities. The organisation has been seeking a suitable home for around 20 years.                                                              

Both partners bring considerable experience to the project. STT has successfully developed and managed projects at Dunkirk Mill Museum and the Gigg Mill Weaving Shed, while SVA has established thriving creative communities at its John Street and Goods Shed venues through a model that combines artists' studios with community activities and events.

The council recently supported SVA's acquisition of the freehold of the listed Goods Shed in Stroud, helping to secure the building for community and creative use while strengthening the organisation's ability to attract external funding.

As part of the agreed arrangements, the meeting room at the Old Town Hall will continue to be available for hire and will remain an important source of income for the building. The council will also retain storage space for market equipment used in the operation of the Shambles Market.

To support the building's long-term sustainability, the council will fund the replacement of the existing central heating system.

The transfer supports the council's ambitions to protect important heritage assets, encourage community-led development and increase access to arts and culture across the district.

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"Have you visited Woodchester Mansion recently? This incredible, unfinished Gothic Revival mansion, complete with rare bat roost, had fallen into disrepair when it was brought into public ownership by the Council in the 1980s.

Last week, councillors agreed to provide up to £245,000 to help secure its long-term future. This will help the Woodchester Mansion Trust, which manages and cares for this special building, prepare a major funding application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Another reminder this Fly Tipping Fortnight that we all have a legal Duty of Care over our waste. This means that if fly-tipped rubbish is traced back to you, you could be held responsible, even if you paid someone else to take it away. To avoid being caught out: ask to see a waste carrier registration number; check it on the Environment Agency's public register; request a receipt, and keep records. Taking these simple steps helps ensure your waste is disposed of legally and responsibly.

(Yet more) new planning changes come in this month. The Government will now specify which planning applications will come to the Council’s Development Control Committee, and which will be decided by officers alone. In particular, applications for less than ten dwellings (of particular significance in our villages and rural areas), will no longer come to committee. Although the opportunity to air these applications in public has gone, members of the public can still comment as usual, and Parish & Town Councils continue to be statutory consultees. 

Wonderful that the Cotswold Canals Connected partnership has been awarded the prestigious Building with Nature Full Award, recognising the way the careful construction of the canal and its landscaping benefit both people and wildlife. Huge congratulations to the team at SDC, Cotswold Canals Trust, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Stroud Valleys Project and all our other partners.

Finally, don't forget to sign up for SDC email updates at www.stroud.gov.uk/emailalerts"

Cllr Chloe Turner, Leader of Stroud District Council 

The Cotswold Canals Connected partnership is delighted to announce that the project has been awarded the prestigious Building with Nature Full Award, recognising the exceptional delivery of high-quality green infrastructure that benefits both people and wildlife. The award was formally issued on 23 September 2026 following an independent assessment against the nationally recognised Building with Nature Standards Framework.

Building with Nature is the UK's benchmark for green infrastructure and recognises developments and projects that successfully integrate nature, wellbeing, water management and biodiversity into their design, delivery and long-term stewardship. The accreditation confirms that the Cotswold Canals Connected project has demonstrated excellence in creating a landscape that will deliver lasting environmental, social and economic benefits.

The accreditation recognises the transformation of the canal corridor into a multifunctional network of blue and green infrastructure. The project is restoring the Stroudwater Canal while creating significant new habitats, improving access to nature, supporting active travel, enhancing water management and delivering long-term benefits for local communities and wildlife.

Key achievements include the creation of what will become, once established, more than 21 hectares of priority habitat, 4km of new species-rich hedgerows, 2km of wildflower-rich towpath verges, a new community orchard, enhanced wetland habitats, and improved ecological connectivity across the Severn Vale.

The project was assessed against Building with Nature's rigorous standards covering three core themes:

• Wellbeing: Creating accessible spaces that support health, recreation, learning and community engagement.
• Water: Delivering sustainable water management, flood resilience and improved water quality.
• Wildlife: Achieving substantial biodiversity gains through habitat creation, ecological restoration and long-term stewardship.

The judges also recognised the project's commitment to long-term management, with plans in place to maintain and monitor environmental enhancements for at least 25 years after completion.

Cllr Chloe Turner, Leader of the Council and member of the Cotswold Canals Connected Project Board, said:

"Achieving the Building with Nature Full Award is a tremendous endorsement of the vision and hard work that has gone into the Cotswold Canals Connected project. Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund we set out to deliver far more than a canal restoration project. We wanted to create a landscape that supports nature recovery, improves access to the countryside, encourages healthier lifestyles and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations.

“This accreditation demonstrates that the project is delivering meaningful benefits for both people and wildlife and provides independent recognition of the high environmental standards that have guided every stage of the scheme."

The award is particularly significant because Building with Nature is widely regarded as the UK's leading standard for green infrastructure. The accreditation provides independent assurance that the project has successfully combined heritage restoration with climate resilience, biodiversity enhancement and community wellbeing.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust has led the environmental programme, working in partnership with the Cotswold Canals Trust, Stroud District Council, Stroud Valleys Project and numerous community organisations.

The Cotswold Canals Connected project has already transformed access to the canal corridor while creating opportunities for volunteering, education, active travel and wildlife conservation.

Pete Savage, Canal Environment Consultant at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, said:

“We're delighted that the Cotswold Canals Connected project has received this award. It shows what can be achieved when organisations, volunteers and local communities work together for nature. Not only is the project helping wildlife thrive, it’s also giving more people the chance to connect with the natural world and feel part of its future.

"Through the ongoing management of canal habitats and the continued transformation of the reserve at Fromebridge, we and our volunteers are creating spaces where both wildlife and people can flourish.”