Restaurant-club bid for unused shopping centre roof
THERE are fresh plans for part of a Cheltenham shopping centre that has never been used. A restaurant and nightclub could soon occupy the empty space in the Regent Arcade.
Bosses of the town centre site have submitted a planning application to the borough council. It seeks permission to redevelop a vacant greenhouse building at the car park/roof level to create a rooftop leisure unit facing Regent Street.
A report in the application describes the glazed structure as ‘dilapidated’ and says the plan is to replace it with a new building that would include an external terrace and views across the town centre rooftops.
The arcade appears to have someone interested in using the planned new building because the report says: “The proposed tenant operates a drinks and meals offer with live music/djs at night-time.”
The new plans seek to amend previously approved ones for a rooftop restaurant. As well as demolishing the empty greenhouse building, the proposal includes demolishing the car park staircase lobby and staircase. The plans also include the installation of a 13-person lift from ground to roof level and a new staircase. The new rooftop unit would have two levels.
The main facade along Regent Street would be predominantly glazed to full height with solid panels at both ends. The lower level would have glazed doors allowing access to the roof terrace with external seating.
If the new use is approved, the plan is for a DJ to play music from 9pm until 2am on Thursdays and Fridays. On Saturdays, the DJ set would be from noon until 5pm and then from 9pm until 2am.
A preliminary study showed there would not be any disturbance in the area caused by the late-night noise, according to the report. And it said there would not be any live or DJ music on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Measures to keep the noise down would include having security in place after 10pm to ensure customers were quiet and well-behaved, and having no music on the terrace after 10pm. Twenty full-time and 20 part-time jobs would be created at the new development, the arcade said.
The application’s report added: “The existing greenhouse is an eyesore not serving the function for which it was designed. A rooftop leisure unit creates activity throughout the day, providing a number of jobs and positively contributes to the social provisions in Cheltenham.”
If the development goes ahead, it will be another big change at the 37-yearold shopping centre following the recent arrival of a boutique cinema and the Decathlon sports shop. The council hopes to determine the application by September 9.