Cobblers Corner Plans to develop town centre ‘island’ are approved
ONE of Cheltenham town centre’s iconic landmarks has been approved for a refurbishment which will see its empty top two floors turned into residential flats, despite concerns from conservation and heritage groups.
Sometimes described as awkwardlooking, the Cobblers Corner which marks the boundary of the lower and upper High Streets, could soon be prime real estate.
Plans will see both of the two separate retail units, which make up the Grade Ii-listed Cobblers Corner island on the High Street, turned into a single F. Hinds jewellery shop, with a doorway created to link the two spaces. Meanwhile, both of the upper floors will be turned into town centre flats.
The alterations to the listed building proved controversial for some, with Cheltenham’s Late Night Economy Champion Cllr David Willingham raising concerns that the nearby club 2 Pigs could generate noise complaints when tenants move in, while the Civic Society and the council’s Conservation Officer questioned the damage that could be done to the building’s historic fabric through these alterations. With the need to protect the ground-floor jewellery shop, both heritage consultees raised the change that rollable metal shutters could make to the look of the building, as well as the impact of making the space into one unit by knocking through a wall. However, the Conservation Officer still surmised that the change will still “result in less than substantial harm”.
One of the objectors to the scheme was the current occupant of 202 High Street, the key-cutting business operating out of the rounded end of Cobblers Corner, who said that they had received no warning from their new landlords, F. Hinds, and would now be turfed out when their lease comes to an end.
The scheme also saw support, with Liberal Democrat Cllr Max Wilkinson citing the need for the greater occupation of town centre spaces that can be used for housing, as well as the intention to install solar panels, in support of Cheltenham’s wider declaration of a climate emergency.
This need for housing was a key determinate in the approval of the development, which will retain many of the external features that makes the town centre “island” a key landmark on the High Street. This includes the ironwork and the sign recognising it as Cobblers Corner.
The officer’s report, which recommended the plans for approval, reads: “Officers are therefore satisfied that the conversion of the upper floors of the building for residential purposes and the long-term investment in the ground-floor commercial space will result in public benefits that outweigh the identified harm.
“Given the current shortage of housing within the borough, the public benefits of the residential use is this highly sustainable location are apparent.”
You can view the full planning application on the Cheltenham Borough Council planning website, searching with the reference 23/00685/FUL.