Plan to build 1,000 homes near GCHQ

MORE than 1,000 homes are planned to be built near GCHQ on the western edge of Cheltenham.

The 158-acre site is south of Old Gloucester Road and close to the edge of Springbank and Hester’s Way.

The land forms part of a wider allocated site for houses, businesses, shops and leisure facilities – known as the Golden Valley Development.

If all goes to plan, 200 hectares will be used to create what will be called Cyber Central UK – a business park for cyber-related companies.

Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council are working together on a project they say will create about 12,000 jobs and, over time, about 3,700 homes.

Plans for the rest of the site are expected to be brought forward separately by other landowners at a later date.

A planning application for the 1,100 homes part of the site is expected to be submitted in the spring.

But as is standard practice, the developer says it wants to get people’s opinions on its scheme before it puts the application in. It will be lodged with both councils because the site falls in both Cheltenham and Tewkesbury boroughs.

The plans are being brought forward in a partnership between St Modwen, the chosen development partner for the landowner, and Midlands Land Portfolio Limited (MLPL), the property development arm of Severn Trent PLC.

The development will contain private and ‘affordable’ homes, a new primary school, ‘significant’ open green spaces, new walking and cycling connections and community amenities.

A virtual consultation event for the public will be hosted online, using Zoom, and will take place on Tuesday January 25, from 6pm to 7.30pm.

A letter containing details of how people can join the event has been sent to local residents.

More information and full details of the proposal are available online at www.westcheltenham.co.uk