Plans progress for £55m Cheltenham town centre redevelopment site

Plans submitted by Wavensmere Homes and BBS Capital for the redevelopment of the North Place surface car park in central Cheltenham have been recommended for approval by planning officials.

The proposal for Arkle Court – submitted in February 2024 – comprises 147 houses and apartments, to be built alongside the Grade II listed St Margaret’s Terrace.

That includes 75 three-bedroom townhouses are proposed, together with 72 one- and two-bedroom apartments over a three- or four-storey block.

Designed by architects Glancy Nicholls, the £55 million, 3.5-acre plans for Arkle Court intend to complement the town’s Regency architecture.

Ben Clarke, Technical Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “We are delighted to see this allocated brownfield site recommended for approval, ahead of the planning committee meeting on 15 August.

“Our plans for Arkle Court will finally bring forward this long unloved eyesore and continue the renaissance of the wider St Paul’s area.

“After extensive work with the planning department and statutory consultees, amended plans were submitted earlier this summer to address feedback on heritage and conservation impact to St Margaret’s Terrace.

“We have consequently reduced the scale and mass of the apartment block and introduced a range of finer architectural details found locally.

“This important regeneration project is set to showcase what can be achieved when the Borough Council and developers work together to unlock complicated schemes for the benefit of Cheltenham.”

In 2013, the council awarded planning for a large supermarket and 143 new homes for the site, which never materialised.

The new designs for Arkle Court include sustainable measures such as air source heat pumps, solar panels and centralised mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems, along with EV charging points. 

Nick Spencer, co-founder and director of BBS Capital, said: “We’re delighted to once again be working with Wavensmere Homes on a landmark project which is set to deliver new investment and jobs while creating highly sustainable homes on brownfield land.

“As part of our negotiations with the local authority, we have made a commitment to provide 20 per cent affordable housing on-site, along with a contribution of over £1 million towards upgrades towards local education, libraries and the Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation.

“In addition, a high proportion of the new homes will be aimed at first-time buyers and young families, with attainable prices significantly below prime Cheltenham values.

“We very much hope to be able to break ground with the redevelopment of North Place within the coming months.”