21 Jul 2010

Grand Designs in store for Cashes Green Hospital

Having been involved in many parts of the consultation on this site I was very interested to hear that TV star Kevin McCloud has announced he has grand designs for the old Cashes Green Hospital site (pictured).

Here is an abbreviated report from the SNJ's front page today:

The celebrity presenter of the hit Channel 4 series Grand Designs where he advises and oversees ambitious building projects, has teamed up with Gloucestershire Land for People (GLP). The partnership was described this week as a "massive step forward" towards redeveloping the derelict site.

Owned by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the site has been earmarked for building 78 homes in a joint venture between Mr McCloud’s company Hab and housing group GreenSquare, forming Hab Okus. The agreement sees Hab Oakus work alongside the Community Land Trust, local residents and stakeholders to redevelop the site, which will include allotment space and a community building. Under the proposals, GLP will own and manage 39 of these homes, which will be available for affordable rent and part ownership.

Max Comfort, chairman of GLP, said: "This is a massive step forward in the development of the Cashes Green site. We are really pleased to be able to work with Hab Oakus and thank the HCA for its support in helping us get the project to this stage. We are looking forward to playing our part in what is – quite rightly – a flagship for delivering affordable housing in England."

The remaining homes will be made available for sale on the open market by Hab Oakus. It is the first time such a management model will be delivered for housing on HCA-owned land.

Mr McCloud said: "This will be an exemplar project, which has the involvement of the local community at its core. This is a scheme that could show how future housing developments, driven by local communities, could be unlocked. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work on such an important project."

As part of the agreement, Hab Oakus will build all 78 new dwellings to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which is a higher standard of environmental sustainability than a traditionally built-house....A full planning application will be submitted later this year.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

These are shocking pictures for me since I have loving memories of Cashes Green Hospital in 1982. Coming from Germany I spent one year as a 20 year old Au pair in a nice family in Nailsworth Shortwood. In my spare time I worked as a volumentary worker in that Cashes Green Hospital Geriatrie care under the Ward Sisters Breeden and Sister Beresford. I met even the German nurse Rita Walker there, to whom my friendship last till today. Due to the experience of this typical caring and loving attitue of Britisch nurses, I became a nurse too and worked apart from Germany and Italy for many years in India. Cashes Green's memories will last for ever with me as a dear treasure. Thanks for that experience☺

Philip said...

The site has been developed now - a great book captures some of it: http://www.look-again.org/art-of-applewood/
Short film of site being developed: http://stroudcommunity.tv/applewood-update-on-exciting-development-at-cashes-green-hospital-site/
Sorry no film of how it is now!