Column by Stroud District Council leader Catherine Braun

THIS week marks one year since the start of the war in Ukraine.  

Here in Stroud district, we’re fortunate that more than 80 people have opened their homes, to host 270 Ukrainian adults and children through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. 

There has been fantastic support from voluntary and community organisations, including the Help for Ukraine Support Hub, Stroud Ukraine Refugee Community Support and Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers.  

With such a warm welcome, I hope that our new Ukrainian residents are starting to feel at home in Stroud district.   

The council budget for 2023/24 was discussed last week, and I was delighted that it was approved unanimously, by councillors from all political groups, which sets us up well for collaborative working in the year ahead.  

Housing is one area where we will be continuing with significant investment, through the council house building programme, purchasing new properties, and energy efficiency improvements for our 5,000 council homes. 

For those people who find themselves without a home, there is currently very little appropriate temporary accommodation in the local area, particularly for those who have experienced street homelessness.  

To help homeless people get back on their feet, this week we’re supporting the launch of Citadel House, which will provide a safe temporary home in Stroud for up to eight people who are experiencing homelessness, with their dogs if needed.  

Finally, I was pleased to see that after more than 20 years, work is finally underway to renovate Tricorn House in Cainscross, by the new owners of the building.

They are working to convert the building for 44 flats, in line with the current planning authorisation (S.20/0759/P30), which is in place until May 28, 2023.
We have been in contact with representatives of the new owners to advise them on their redevelopment plans.