Securing the future of the Old Station building in Cirencester

The buildings require significant work and investment, especially the Old Station which has been used for storage for around 30 years and needs a lot of repairs to bring it back into use. The Council has considered all options thoroughly but has been unable to identify an affordable solution while remaining as owners. 

At the Council meeting on 31 July 2024, it was agreed to go to the market to explore a potential sale. The aim of this approach is to bring in new organisations with the required funding to repair and maintain the buildings for the future. 

The Council hopes that a buyer or separate buyers can be found who can restore the buildings. This would ensure that the cottages can continue to be used and bring the Old Station back into use, either for business purposes or to provide services or facilities for local people.  

In 2022, the Council looked to bring the Old Station back into use and renovate the Memorial Cottages knowing that significant funding would need to be raised to update the buildings.  

The Council worked with New Brewery Arts in 2023 to run a feasibility study using government funding available to the charity sector. The work concluded that the costs for this project would be too high without further funding that the council and partners at the time did not have. 

To explore other options, earlier this year the Council put out a call for interest to look for a new partner who could take over these assets and bring in the additional funding needed.  

Unfortunately, none of the respondents had the funding to renovate the Old Station or the Memorial Cottages. 

Cllr Mike Evemy, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said, “Whilst this is not the outcome we had hoped for, I am looking forward to seeing what the market holds for the future of these two assets. Our ultimate aim needs to be to ensure the buildings have the necessary investment to restore and maintain them. 

“As a council we have explored every avenue to bring these buildings back to life and restore them, but unfortunately the cost is just too high. In our current financial position with our budgets under severe pressure, we just cannot afford the cost of renovating the buildings ourselves. 

“We have explored every avenue up to this point, including partnering with local charities and seeking local partners. Unfortunately, we have not been able to find an alternative financially viable solution.” 

Any development of the Old Station Building will be strictly governed by English Heritage and Planning guidelines due to its status as a listed building.