Community comments key to Cashes Green consultation

After loads of work, the final consultation event to discuss the future of the derelict hospital in Cashes Green, Stroud, happened yesterday.

Proposals to deliver 78 homes on the HCA-owned site generated more than its fair share of interest. There are a couple of reasons for this.

Firstly, the site is disused for too long and is the focal point of a campaign to bring it back into use.

Secondly, the key players are newsworthy in themselves. The developers are Hab Oakus, a joint venture involving Kevin McCloud‘s company Hab and GreenSquare Group.

Community comms in action

Kevin played a leading role in the local consultation events. He was accessible to the media, who are obviously interested in his views.

The other key partner in this project is the Community Land Trust (CLT), Gloucestershire Land for People. They take responsibility for managing affordable housing on the site once it is built.

This is a vivid demonstration of the Government’s localism agenda, and the first time a CLT-led scheme has come forward on a HCA site – making it a national first for Stroud.

Hundreds of locals attended the three consultation events. Residents received newsletters, and media relations, site visits and digital communications have all helped spread the word. Most encouragingly for me is how the partners strived to listen and respond to local opinion expressed during the consultation.

Proof of the pudding is in the eating, for sure. But if anyone wants proof that local views can shape proposals, they should look at the media coverage from yesterday.

This project produced the best example of community engagement I have supported since joining the HCA. I am sorry I couldn’t attend yesterday’s event too, but wisdom teeth removal put a stop to that.

You can find out more about the scheme and material produced for the consultation here.