Cllrs Sandra Gidley, Geoff Cooper and Nik Daas outside the derelict Brewery Site

Get Romsey Brewery site building again

It’s 36 years since the Strongs Brewery site on Princes Road, Romsey was vacated by Whitbread. Stanborough Developments Ltd. was granted planning permission for 211 homes on the site in 2006 – 18 years ago – but only 13 homes have been completed since.

Now Geoff Cooper, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Romsey and Southampton North, along with local borough councillors Sandra Gidley and Nik Daas, are again calling for action to get the site developed.

The brewery site has long been an eyesore on our beautiful town. The previous government did nothing to help [and] our own MP has done nothing to try and resolve this issue for the people of Romsey. Romsey needs this site included in Labour’s plans alongside projects already mentioned in Liverpool, Worcester, Sutton Coldfield and Northstowe.

Geoff Cooper, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Romsey and Southampton North

Labour has promised to reform planning laws and earlier this week, the new Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out how the government proposes to “get Britain building again”. The Government is planning a special task force to accelerate stalled housing sites and identify other developments that require Westminster intervention. Given that the site has been vacant and undeveloped for over a quarter of a century, the Liberal Democrats want the task force to include the Brewery Site in their work.

Cllr Geoff Cooper said, “The brewery site has long been an eyesore on our beautiful town. The previous government did nothing to help local councils deliver the kind of housing their communities needed. Nor did they prevent developers sitting on land with planning permission, for their own profitable gain. Our own MP has done nothing to try and resolve this issue for the people of Romsey. Little surprise given the level of Tory party donations made by developers and building companies.

“The new legislation will hopefully give local authorities the powers they need to force developers to get on with the business of building. At the same time ensuring we get the right type of housing and most importantly the infrastructure to support it. Finally, the community’s needs will be put ahead of the developers wants.

“Romsey needs this site included in Labour’s plans alongside projects already mentioned in Liverpool, Worcester, Sutton Coldfield and Northstowe.”

Cllr Sandra Gidley added, “Over the years, many people have tried to solve this problem, which is a blight on the town and an unpleasant environment for people living adjacent to the site. I welcome any moves to change planning law so that this problem can be dealt with once and for all.”

Include Romsey Brewery Site in stalled housing sites taskforce

We the undersigned call of the Government to ensure that the Romsey Brewery site is included in the work of its new taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites.

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