A £55 million project to build 147 homes on North Place car park in Cheltenham town centre has been given the green light this August 2024.
Developer Wavensmere Homes and BBS Capital applied to Cheltenham Borough Council for permission to redevelop the 3.5 acre car park opposite The Brewery Quarter, with plans comprising 75 three-bedroom townhouses and a four-storey building made up of 72 one and two-bedroom apartments.
Councillors unanimously approved the scheme on Thursday 15 August 2024, with construction set to begin 'within a matter of months'.
Wavensmere says the development, known as Arkle Court, has been designed by nationally acclaimed architects Glancy Nicholls to 'sensitively enhance the street scene' at the site, including the Grade II listed St Margaret’s Terrace, as well as to compliment the town's regency architecture.
The developers also underline the scheme's environmental impact, with the project set to deliver sustainable drainage and biodiversity net gains 'well in excess' of policy regulations.
Additionally, the development will also contain multiple areas of landscaped open space, with the opportunity for a public art installation to be created as part of the Cheltenham Paint Festival.
James Dickens, managing director of Wavensmere Homes, said: 'There has been a desire to redevelop this key site for Cheltenham for over a decade.
'Receiving the green light from the borough’s planning committee will enable us to inject £55m into delivering much-needed energy efficient homes and continue the renaissance of the wider St Paul’s area.
'It has taken years of partnership working to get to this point and our delivery will showcase what can be achieved when the borough council and developers work together to unlock complex regeneration schemes for the benefit of Cheltenham.
'Our team will continue to work with the council and other stakeholders on the pre-construction details, to enable us to start work on site as soon as possible.'
Nick Spencer, director and co-founder at BBS Capital added: 'We are thrilled this landmark brownfield site can now finally be redeveloped to deliver highly sustainable family houses and apartments, with over 100 construction jobs to be created in the process.'
