This Stroud District Green Party Submission to the Brimscombe Port Area Action Plan was submitted on 11th June 2007.

The decision to create an Area Action Plan for Brimscombe Port reflects the key importance of this site to the overall canal regeneration.

As a site largely within public ownership (British Waterways) and part of a process with the strong support of the local Parish Council, District Council, County Council and RDA, supported by large amounts of public money (through the Lottery, SWRDA, District Council among others) it is essential that it is an exemplar of sustainable development and best practice.  This means that the following principles should be followed:

1. The process should be a model of consultation with local community stakeholders; this requires transparency and a clear process for community views to be incorporated into decision-making.  An externally facilitated process such as ‘Inquiry by Design’ should be used.

2. The construction process and final product should be an exemplar of sustainable building – demonstrating how the highest standards of energy efficiency can be met cost-effectively and within a development that is visually attractive and a pleasant place to live and work (i).

3. The mix of development should represent the needs of the community and the opportunities of the site, including sufficient water to reflect the historic port, community space, affordable housing, employment (including some manual employment reflecting the existing jobs on the site).  This will require careful balancing with some higher return uses such as houses/flats for sale).

4. The plan needs to include sustainable transport provision, including a cycle route to the main employment, leisure, retail and transport hub in Stroud Town.

5. Provision needs to be made for a biodiversity corridor along the valley, in which Brimscombe Port is a link, not a gap.

6. The Action Plan requires a Strategic Environmental Assessment which demonstrates a contribution to reducing the Districts Environmental Footprint at least in line with the District Environmental Strategy.

Note: (i) Bedzed was an early example of such a successful development – knowledge has increased since