Rumours that an old office building near Stroud that has been transformed from its neglected and deteriorating state into dozens of flats would be used to house asylum seekers and refugees has been addressed by the district council. Tricorn House, in Cainscross, was formerly a Government Department of Health and Social Security building from the 1970s to the mid-1990s.
The building has been mainly vacant since then and had become a target for vandals over the years. Construction work on the building appears to have been largely finished with 44 flats, but it is not occupied.
In an update to a Frequently Asked Questions section on its website, Stroud District Council said rumours persist that it will be used to house asylum seekers and refugees. But it said this will not be the case.
In response, it said the council had received a final completion certificate from a registered building control Approved Inspector in respect of the building work at Tricorn House in October 2024. It says: “This means that the building work has been completed to the satisfaction of the building regulations and that the apartments are now ready to be occupied.”
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The disused Tricorn House on Westward Road in Stroud
(Image: Google)
It added: “Over recent months, Stroud District Council has been working to reach an agreement with a social landlord (who has the support of the owners) to provide much needed accommodation for local homeless families and individuals. This is the council’s preferred use of the building and we hope to reach an agreement with the social landlord very soon.
“Stroud District Council provided a response to the Government appointed contractor in 2024, regarding the potential for Tricorn House to accommodate asylum seekers and refugees. The Government has subsequently written to the Council to advise that the owners of Tricorn House have confirmed that the building is not available to them to house asylum seekers and refugees.
“The owners continue to be responsible for the building and decisions on the future use of the building rest ultimately with them. The owners are also responsible for the security of the building.
“In all our discussions, SDC will continue to represent the community’s concerns and push for the building to be brought back into use, preferably to meet the local need for accommodating homeless families and individuals.”
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