News

Rob Forbes, ecology expert on the Sharpness Vale project team, explains how Sharpness Vale’s vision is to go above and beyond standard requirements to boost and protect nature, leading to biodiversity gain.

Biodiversity net gain requires developers to ensure habitats for wildlife are enhanced and left in a measurably better state than they were pre-development.  At Sharpness Vale we are aiming higher, in the full appreciation that we are located in a very special part of the world. The Severn Estuary is of international significance for overwintering and migratory birds and as such is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA).  Over half of Sharpness Vale will consist of new green spaces.… Read More »Rob Forbes, ecology expert on the Sharpness Vale project team, explains how Sharpness Vale’s vision is to go above and beyond standard requirements to boost and protect nature, leading to biodiversity gain.

Climate: Challenging convention and delivering change

In March 2021 we published our Climate Change Manifesto. Paul Fong, Ridge LLP, explains why, and discusses how climate change has influenced every aspect of Sharpness Vale’s design. The effects of climate change are rapidly affecting our world, creating an increased number of extreme weather events. We will need to address climate change in everything that we do to slow the rapidly increasing temperatures across the globe. If we continue to burn fossil fuels, release greenhouse gases and cut down… Read More »Climate: Challenging convention and delivering change

Rail Link Update

Providing new infrastructure will directly help in significantly reducing car use at Sharpness Vale. Andy Faizey explains the exciting progress being made on a new rail link. Sharpness already has an operational railway line. We think it is time for people to be able to use it again. We are designing Sharpness Vale to include the re-opening of the railway line at Sharpness to passenger services, including the construction of a new station. Network Rail has formally confirmed that it… Read More »Rail Link Update

News from Sharpness Vale

Transport New publication: Our transport approach ‘Our Transport Approach’ document is now available to read on our website here. The document explains our approach and rationale to transport and movement at Sharpness Vale. The focus for Sharpness Vale is on a move away from the private car to sustainable transport to include increased public transport provision, a network of cycle, pedestrian and bridle paths and a re-opened railway line.  Bid for ‘Restoring your Railway’ fund  We’re continuing discussions with Stroud District Council… Read More »News from Sharpness Vale

Meet the team: Andy Faizey

I’m Strategic Land Director at Lioncourt Strategic Land Limited. Sharpness Development LLP is a partnership between GreenSquareAccord and Lioncourt Group. Lioncourt is a Worcestershire based company comprising Lioncourt Homes Limited, a five-star quality rated housebuilder and Lioncourt Strategic Land Limited, a specialist land trading company. Lioncourt is committed to working with local communities to produce high quality developments that are promoted through and shaped by the planning system. I’ve been a chartered town planner for over 30 years and have worked for… Read More »Meet the team: Andy Faizey

Taking stock during Covid-19: living more sustainably

During lockdown, many of us have taken stock of how we live. As a result, people are becoming much more aware of their carbon footprint and our impact on the natural world. Trends such as homeworking, cycling, and local food growing have accelerated. Cycle sales, for example, increased in April by 60 per cent.  The Government also recently announced a £2 billion package to create a new era for cycling and walking. Fast-tracked statutory guidance, published in May and effective immediately,… Read More »Taking stock during Covid-19: living more sustainably

News from Sharpness Vale

Local Plan News Sharpness Vale is a draft allocation in the Stroud District Draft Local Plan and the council is now working through the representations made on the Draft Local Plan during the consultation period earlier this year. Our proposals are for a mixed used development including 2,400 homes by 2040 as well as a 10 hectare business park, with an eventual total number of 5,000 homes, to help meet the district’s housing and employment needs. We’re intending to submit a planning application in 2021 and we will engage… Read More »News from Sharpness Vale

Meet The Team: Laurence Clarke

I’m a development consultant representing GreenSquareAccord for Sharpness Development LLP. GreenSquareAccord is a registered social landlord with a strong track record in delivering and managing affordable homes. GreenSquareAccord will own and manage affordable homes at Sharpness Vale for the long-term. Those who live locally will get first access to market affordable housing at Sharpness Vale.  I joined Crest Nicholson in 1993 as a trainee land manger. By the time I left in 2005 I was development director in the Bristol… Read More »Meet The Team: Laurence Clarke

Leading the way on a new normal

Global carbon dioxide emissions have experienced the sharpest drop in carbon output since records began after Covid-19 lockdowns were imposed around the world, research has shown1. Daily global CO2 emissions decreased by 17 per cent by early April, compared with the mean 2019 levels, just under half from changes in surface transport.  Whilst it will be challenging to match these low emissions as economies reopen, many people are calling for a new way of doing things rather than going back to business as usual. … Read More »Leading the way on a new normal

Consultation Boards

UPDATED: Sharpness Vale is a draft allocation in the Stroud District Draft Local Plan. Stroud District Council consulted on the Draft Local Plan and held public exhibitions around the district. Our team attended the two exhibitions in Sharpness in December in 2019 and in Berkeley in January this year. We displayed a series of boards on Sharpness Vale which you can view here: