Gloucester’s Dock area may soon see a significant change as the trust in charge seeks permission from the city council to allocate a portion of the moorings for long-term residential use. This initiative opens up the possibility for individuals to live on the water all year round at the heart of the city.
Should the proposal be approved, 15 moorings that are currently utilized for leisure purposes will be repurposed for year-round residency. This move aims to cater to the approximately 15,000 people who live full-time on boats and barges across the country. With an estimated annual rental fee of around £2,100 for the prime dockside location in the city center, the offering presents an affordable alternative to the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the area.
At present, the designated area of the Docks is exclusively for leisure boating, preventing boaters from using their moorings as a permanent address. The Canal & River Trust has identified a demand from leisure boaters and others for year-round moorings, prompting the proposed change.
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The designated moorings will occupy all but the eastern side of the iconic dock area, adjacent to the Docks' car park, and will be made available to potential residents through an auction process. Contracts are likely to span a minimum of 12 months, with pricing differentiated based on the boat’s size.
The motivation behind the request to alter the moorings' use is outlined in the trust’s communication to the council, emphasizing the intention to serve boaters seeking the berth as their primary place of residence, distinguishing it from traditional leisure moorings.
While addressing concerns about space for Bargee Travellers, the council estimates a requirement for 50 berths for the waterborne Gypsy and Traveller community. These moorings, however, will be open to all via auction.
The application assures that existing agreements for the moorings' current leisure use will be honored, with the proposed changes not impacting temporary users of Gloucester’s Docks.
For details on the full application for the change of use, the document is available on the Gloucester City Council planning website under the reference 23/00929/FUL.