Tricorn House – Frequently asked questions

Tricorn House was built in the early 1970’s and was used as an office building for the Government Department of Health and Social Security. It was vacated in 1996 and has been largely empty since that time, falling into disrepair and becoming increasingly derelict. The site has had a number of different planning consents to be redeveloped over the years, but none of these have been progressed by the owners, until now. The current planning consent that is being implemented is for a conversion of the building into 44 residential apartments.

Tricorn House was built in the early 1970’s and was used as an office build

Vilednik Holdings Ltd. It has owned the building since the end of 2022. Stroud District Council has never owned the building.

The owners (Vilednik Holdings Ltd) has employed a team of contractors to redevelop the site.

There is a 'Permitted Development' consent to convert the building into residential apartments. Permitted development rights are a national grant of planning permission which allow certain building works and changes of use to be carried out without having to make a planning application. Instead, applicants submit a Prior Notification to the council. Permitted development rights are subject to conditions and limitations to control impacts and to protect local amenity. A condition of this consent is that the development must be completed by the end of May 2023.

With the passing of the end of May 2023, it was obvious that while work was progressing well on site, the development had not been completed. As a consequence, Stroud District Council officers visited the site on 31st May 2023 to assess the extent of the works carried out, with a view to preparing a planning enforcement report to establish the appropriate course of action.

On examining the site, it was observed that partitions to divide the building into the residential units has been installed. All 44 of the units had a full bathroom installed and 43 of the units had a kitchen installed.

Using this information, it was determined that, as a matter of fact and degree, the development which had been undertaken had resulted in a material change of use of the building. The site visit clearly established that the building no longer, nor could now reasonably, be used as offices. Someone with no prior knowledge would think they had entered a block of flats.

The council, therefore, concluded that a change of use had occurred by 28th May 2023 and that the level of works undertaken meet the requirements of the prior notification.

Separate planning applications were made for new windows and entrance to the building, as well as a structure to house bats. This is because bats are present in the building and they are a protected species. These were permitted in March and November 2023.

The current consent for the building provides 34 parking spaces for the 44 residential units. The permitted development process did not require car parking to be provided in accordance with normal parking standards. The site is small, so there is limited opportunity to provide any more than 34 spaces.

The developer will abide by the considerate constructor’s scheme and will regularly keep Stroud District Council officers up to date with works on site.

Stroud District Council’s main role is as the Local Planning Authority, responsible for ensuring that the building is developed in line with the relevant planning consents.  The council has also represented the long-standing community concerns about the building when encouraging owners to progress with the redevelopment.

Stroud District Council has been in regular dialogue with the different owners over recent years, reminding them of their responsibilities for the safety and security of the building and supporting their plans – as far as possible - to bring it back into positive use for our community.

Stroud District Council cannot purchase a building unless the owners wish to sell. In 2008, the Council attempted to use a legal power known as a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to force the previous owners to sell the building (which was derelict at the time), but this was not successful. Efforts since that time have focused on encouraging the new owners to redevelop the site using the various planning consents that have been granted by Stroud District Council. Whilst there are some works remaining to be completed, the new owners have converted the building to residential apartments.

The Council approached the owners to discuss potential purchase of the building but the owners do not wish to sell. An option for the Council to lease the building from the owners was also discussed but there is no business justification for the Council to use public money to do so and this option is not being pursued.

Stroud District Council (SDC) has been pressing the owners of Tricorn House for a timeline to complete the building. We have now received (late October 2024) a final certificate from a registered building control approver that the building work at Tricorn House has been completed. This means that the building work has been completed to the satisfaction of the building regulations and that that the apartments are now ready to be occupied.

Originally, the owners told SDC they planned to sell the apartments on the residential market. However, a Government contractor has approached SDC and local partners during 2024, seeking our views on the potential to use the building to house asylum seekers.

Also during 2024, a social landlord, working closely with the owners, has asked if SDC is interested in renting apartments at Tricorn House for local homeless families and individuals. Discussions between SDC and the social landlord about this option are continuing.

The owners continue to be responsible for the building and decisions on its future use rest ultimately with them.

In all of our discussions, SDC will continue to represent the community’s concerns and push for positive action.

Updates will be provided as the situation develops.