Cotswold District Council has revealed that it is investing £158,000 into the repairs and renovation of the Grade II listed former railway station in Cirencester, designed by Industrial Revolution great Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Built in 1841 by Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway, the mid-19th century station served Cirencester as part of the Kemble branch line but closed in 1965 after the line was discontinued.
The decision to renovate the historic building, which has stood vacant for several years, came after a structural survey found that the west wall adjacent to the old platform had 'structural instabilities', partly due to extensive rot in the original timbers.
A number of explorative ideas had been considered for the future use of the building, including an initial collaboration with New Brewery Arts on a renovation proposal. This didn't proceed, however, with the council now exploring other ideas to ensure this site and that of the Memorial Hospital Cottage contribute to the town centre's cultural and historical significance.
Councillor Lisa Spivey, cabinet member for communities and public safety, said: 'This investment underscores our commitment to preserving the Old Station while we look at all options to protect these buildings for future generations and bring them back into use.
'Unique buildings like this are often a challenge as they come with high price tags for maintenance. Also, The Old Station was designed for a specific purpose which brings difficulty in adapting it for use in other ways.
'We would like to thank New Brewery Arts for their work with us to look at new ways to bring the building back into use. Unfortunately, the numbers didn't stack up on that project, so we are continuing to explore other options over the coming months.'
