A £20 million redevelopment of Cheltenham’s Arle Court Park and Ride site has been proposed, as Gloucestershire continues to lay the groundwork for the forthcoming Golden Valley Development.
The plans, submitted to Cheltenham Borough Council, include an extra 403 parking bays, taking the total to 955; five dedicated taxi and 12 motorhome bays; more spaces for disabled drivers; and room for an additional 70 bicycles, taking the number to 90.
Images show a site dominated by a wood-clad multi-storey car park building, which spans over 2,500 square metres; with the plans also including a café that would be open from 7am to 7pm and a name change to Arle Court Transport Hub.
Jack Lorraine, planning consultant at development firm Atkins, said: ‘On behalf of Gloucestershire County Council, Atkins is seeking full planning permission for a proposed multi-storey car park building, a bus hub in the existing eastern car park area at the Arle Court Park and Ride facility, drainage, lighting and access improvements.
‘The scheme will improve and future proof Arle Court Park and Ride to include more parking space availability and electric vehicles bays; to provide coach lay off and taxi set down space; and to provide improved segregated access routes through the site for buses, private vehicles and cycling and pedestrians.’
Arle Court Park and Ride sits at the end of the A40 dual carriageway from Gloucester, a short drive from junction 11 of the M5 and directly south of the site of the site for the Golden Valley Development.
The multi-million pound Golden Valley Development aims to create a ‘garden community’, integrating hi-tech business, residential and leisure uses with a digital-focused business park Cyber Central at its heart. The development is expected to become a major economic driver for the county.
Work is already underway to add extra traffic lanes, bus and cycleways from Gloucester, Staverton and Cheltenham to accommodate the scheme, all of them linking in to the new Park and Ride.
By Andrew Merrell
Follow SoGlos on LinkedIn and sign-up to the weekly SoGlos business newsletter for the very latest Gloucestershire business news stories.
