Plans to build 75 houses and a four-storey apartment block on the site of North Place car park will be considered at a planning committee this month, with Cheltenham Borough Council reportedly recommending them for approval.
The plans submitted by Wavesnmere Homes and BBS Capital propose a £55 million redevelopment of the brownfield site, which has been described as an 'unloved eyesore', creating 147 houses and apartments, as well as enhancing the street scene alongside St Margaret's Terrace.
North Place currently provides around 500 car parking spaces in central Cheltenham, just over the road from the bustling Brewery Quarter and within easy walking distance of the High Street.
The proposed Arkle Court development pledges to create attainable and sustainable new homes in its place, with 75 three-bedroom townhouses and 72 one- and two-bedroom apartments over a three- or four-storey apartment block designed by architect Glancy Nicholls.
It's also been suggested that a high percentage of the new homes will be priced 'significantly below' prime Cheltenham values, making them attainable for first-time buyers and young families.
And while it was initially assessed as not viable, Wavensmere Homes and BBS Capital are committed to providing 20 per cent affordable housing on-site, too.
Sustainability is at the centre of this development — the new designs are gas-free, targeting an A-rated energy performance, and the development intends to keep its carbon footprint low by specifying local materials. The environmental impact of the project has also been carefully considered, with plans to deliver sustainable drainage and biodiversity net gains in excess of the regulation changes.
The new properties themselves are designed to be extremely eco-friendly, incorporating energy saving and generating technology like air sourced heat pumps and solar PV panels. Each house on the development will also have its own dedicated parking space served by a 7kW electric vehicle charger, too.
Arkle Court plans also include plenty of landscaped open space, with provision for murals to be created as part of Cheltenham Paint Festival, which currently uses North Place car park as one of its key locations.
The project also promises greater connectivity and walkability in Cheltenham, creating a gateway from Pittville Park through to the Brewery Quarter and town centre.
We'll soon find out if Arkle Court gets the green light, with the planning committee due to meet on Thursday 15 August 2024.
