Our Story
Cricklade Development Foundation’s first major success was transforming the disused Old Police Station
into homes, businesses, and shared space. Through local investment, volunteer effort, and strong partnerships,
CDF preserved a landmark and delivered lasting social, economic, and environmental benefits for the town.
Redevelopment of the Old Police Station
What better way to explain what we’re about than to tell the story of the Old Police Station.
We formed the Cricklade Development Foundation (CDF) as a Community Benefit Society and Community Land Trust in 2018 to help keep Cricklade’s High Street vibrant and viable.
Our first major project was the successful purchase and redevelopment of the town’s former Police Station – an unloved 1960s building in a key High Street location – which we’ve transformed into a mixed-use site combining homes, businesses, and future community space.
Getting Started
The idea of a community-led acquisition was entirely new to us. We began by seeking guidance from the Community Land Trust and Wiltshire Council’s community-led housing team. Both offered us invaluable insights into governance, legal structures, and funding opportunities.
They also stressed how important it was to engage early with local stakeholders. One of our first steps was to gain the support of Cricklade Town Council, who provided initial funding and acted as a banking facility until we were formally established. Their backing gave us vital credibility and momentum.
With advice from the CLT, we chose to become a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society with an asset lock. This model gave us the legal framework we needed to raise funds through community investment and protect the building’s future use for community benefit.
The Opportunity
Despite its dated appearance, the police station had served a public function since 1902 and had been a focal point for large community events, like the Christmas Lights Switch On.
Sitting on such a pivotal site, it was clear to us that the building was little used by the police — and we saw real potential to preserve this landmark for the town.
In March 2019, we successfully had the building listed as an Asset of Community Value, which gave us a six-month window to raise funds once it came to market.
From Concept to Community Buy-In
We came together to form CDF after hearing that the Cricklade Police Station had been added to the Police Authority’s disposal list. There were real concerns that the site could be entirely converted into residential housing, so as local residents, we decided to drive a community-led purchase and redevelopment that would fit with Cricklade’s Neighbourhood Plan.
We launched an extensive community engagement campaign and prepared to raise funds through a community share offer, giving local people the chance to invest directly. By taking a carefully phased approach, we built confidence and gathered pledges until the Police Authority offered the property to us in early 2021. We agreed on a joint valuation, and in November 2021, we completed the purchase using funds raised from 117 local investors and members — a number that has since grown to 179.
This groundswell of community investment from our members was essential in making the project viable and reflects the depth of local commitment to the future of the High Street.
The Project
The project had several aims;
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Prevent private acquisition that could remove community value.
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Create new homes and workspace to serve the local community.
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Retain a commercial and residential mix at the town centre.
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Create a public walkway and garden space for the benefit of all.
The Team and the Time Commitment
Our CDF team of six brought together a mix of professional experience including;
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Senior roles in purchasing, logistics, IT and customer service.
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Property development, including listed buildings.
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Project management and voluntary sector leadership.
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Local government and town council experience.
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Military experience with construction and logistics insight.
The project demanded not only this wide range of skills, but also a huge investment of our time and energy. Along the way, we had to learn plenty of new skills ourselves — from grant writing to negotiating contracts and managing property development. We found ourselves liaising with all kinds of professionals: the Wiltshire Planning Team, Listed Buildings Officer, archaeological experts, various contractors, and safety specialists, to name just a few. One key lesson we took from the experience: never underestimate how much time, perseverance, and collective knowledge a project like this really needs.
In addition to the core team, we were supported by a dedicated group of volunteers who contributed both skilled and hard physical labour — from clearing rubble after demolition to the expert reinstatement of a collapsed section of dry stone wall.
Redevelopment and Restoration
We secured planning permission for two residential flats above and commercial space below. Redevelopment began in 2022, right in the middle of the pandemic era, which brought its own set of challenges — contractor shortages, rising costs, and supply delays.
To keep costs down, we made use of our own in-house expertise and volunteer labour. Despite the setbacks, we managed to complete and let the two flats by December 2023. The commercial units followed, and we were delighted to see them leased to a financial services firm and a café/deli, which opened in 2025.
Community Benefit and the Garden Project
A key part of our project has always been transforming the large rear garden into a public community space — including the creation of accessible toilet facilities to support its use — entirely our own vision and design. With generous support from Crapper and Sons, the Hills Group (via Community First), the Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board, and Cricklade Town Council, we’re working to create a multi-use garden with spaces for relaxation and small-scale events.
Thanks to National Lottery funding, we’ve already completed a new public walkway — the Queen Elizabeth II Walkway — which offers accessible pedestrian access while also celebrating the Queen’s reign. In total, we’ve received over £80,000 in grants from a variety of funders, alongside generous in-kind support and discounted goods from local suppliers — contributions that have been vital in bringing our vision to life.
Wider Impact
For us, this project has achieved far more than just converting a building. We’ve revitalised a key site on the High Street, boosted footfall, preserved commercial space, increased local employment, and created rental homes for local people. Soon, we’ll also be providing a permanent public green space.
The visual transformation has been widely welcomed by the community — from the improved frontage on the High Street to the redesigned and newly developed rear garden area.
New steels being delivered to the site
New extension to the rear of the site
New bifolds being delivered to the site
Completed redevelopment of the site
Apart from the garden, the redevelopment of the Old Police Station is now complete. The project shows what’s possible when a community unites behind a shared vision—breathing new life into a public building and reinforcing the resilience of the High Street.