Another milestone has been reached in the bid to build the multi-million-pound town centre Minister Exchange (MX) in Cheltenham.
Cheltenham Borough Council has said work can now begin on the MX, which will be home to the town’s branch of the county-wide Growth Hub business support network and a new headquarters for Cheltenham Festivals.
It was originally hoped building work would begin this summer, but with planning already agreed and much of the modular building built off-site, construction is expected to move fast.
‘Workshop Cheltenham, our development partner, has officially handed over Minster Exchange site – this means we can start work on site,’ said Cheltenham Borough Council, in a post on social media.
The project was part-funded by £3.5m won by GFirst LEP from the government’s Getting Building Fund and will be built on the former Gloucestershire County Council car park behind the children’s library beside Cheltenham Minster, adjacent to The Wilson art gallery and museum.
Bruce Gregory, director of Workshop Cheltenham and nearby cyber-focused workspace Hub8, said: ‘Here in Gloucestershire, we have six times the level of cyber businesses than anywhere else in the UK, with Cheltenham at the heart of this network.
‘Minster Exchange, as part of this vital cyber ecosystem, supports CBC’s commitment to build on existing strengths, to develop and grow this sector, putting Cheltenham firmly on the map as the cyber centre of the UK.’
SoGlos was unable to confirm exact timings for the start of the project at the time of publication.
By Andrew Merrell
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