Concern over the management of the Golden Valley Development
When local politics makes its way centre stage in a story about a major development many will begin to shudder. Opposition councillors question the Golden Valley Development plans.
Dear readers,
It was bound to happen at some point over the course of what is a long-term project, especially one promising so much and grabbing so many headlines, but local political figures have broken ranks over the Golden Valley Development.
Billed as the biggest opportunity for the county, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the “£1 billion” project has had the backing of just about everyone - and with good reason. The potential economic and social benefits are obvious.
The promise of 12,000 new jobs and up to 3,700 new homes, with a business park at its centre focusing on tech is hard to resist. The emphasis on purely cyber shifted some time ago, with the development orginally billed as the town putting a flag into the ground to lay claim to being the UK’s cyber capital.
But frustrations have been bubbling away in some quarters for a while now about progress, with many reluctant to go on record as they know that with major projects confidence can be key.
So they’ve towed the cross-party line. Until now. As you’ll see below.
Should we be worried that local politics is beginning to take centre stage over something which once united everyone behind the local authority?
Raikes understands there are concerns in other quarters too, with everyone remaining onside publically, but in private calling for some sign of progress.
We have a follow-up coming too which looks into the challenges in a little more detail.
Best regards,
Andrew Merrell (editor).
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Charity of the week: Man Up Gloucestershire
On Sunday 17 August a cricket match with a difference will take place in the north of Gloucestershire in aid of Man Up Gloucestershire. The charity offers peer-to-peer support groups for men throughout the county with free drop-in sessions in Churchdown, Cheltenham and Newent. Former Cheltenham Town goalkeeper and Gloucester City manager Tim Harris will be leading his team onto the pitch against the Farmers XI at Dymock Cricket Club. Last year Harris, now a director of football at Worcester City FC, lost his son to suicide. Even if you can’t buy a ticket and attend, there’s a raffle with tickets priced at £10. Prizes include a signed Cheltenham Town shirts, 10-game Worcester City FC ticket, hampers, a range of golfing day vouchers, two tickets to Worcestershire County Cricket Club and more. More here.
* The Raikes Journal is a digital magazine and community interest company whose supporters believe, like us, that journalism about Gloucestershire is worth keeping alive. Everything you read here - original stories about our county - is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: QuoLux, Willans LLP, Gloucestershire+ College, Merrell People and Randall & Payne; our sponsors, Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.
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Briefing notes…
🍽️ Calls for public debate over Quays bid for huge food and drink venue: Plans that could see what would be one of the county’s biggest restaurants open at Gloucester Quays could be debated at a public meeting. The retail outlet owners want a planning condition clarified that could allow a 691sqm venue to open - which would be bigger than the nearby vacant former TGI Friday’s (480sqm) and The Lord High Constable of England, J D Wetherspoon at Llanthony Warehouse in the Docks, which is around 565 sqm. More here.
🏆 Judges prepare to draw up shortlist of Gloucestershire businesses. In case you’ve missed it, preparations are well underway for the Believe in Gloucester Awards 2025. The event celebrates the very best businesses, organisations and indivuals that make the city a success. Nominations are in for 15 awards, which range from ambassador, business, small business and new business of the year to retailer, food business, event, and charity of the year. Judges are due to meet this month to shortlist the entries with a public vote on the finalists expected to open in September. Headline sponsors making it all possible are once more WSP Solicitors and Gloucester Quays. More here.
🏗️ Villagers turned out in force at a council meeting on Monday night (11 August) to voice their opposition to plans for a new 3,000-home town off the A417 near Redmarley. It was standing room only at Redmarley Village Hall as parish councillors gathered to discuss their response to the latest blueprint for development in the Forest of Dean district. The council is currently consulting on its local plan and among the options is one or more new towns to help meet their shortfall of 13,200 homes needed by 2043. More here.
📈 Strong first six months for one of Gloucestershire’s biggest businesses: County-grown Brockworth-headquartered Mears plc, has reported “a period of strong operational, financial and strategic performance” for its first six months of the year. Lucas Critchley, the housing maintenance specialist’s chief executive officer, was upbeat - despite a fall in revenue of four percent (from £580 million to £559.4m). Pre-tax profits were up by five per cent to £32 million. More here.
📈 Why there is cause for optimism, despite poor regional business growth: There is cause for optimism, despite a softening of business growth in the South West and a fall in staffing levels at firms in the region for the ninth straight month. According to the Nat West, growth was up for the seventh month in a row, although its Growth Tracker survey’s business activity index for the region shows the rate slowed, slipping from 53.9 in June to 51.1. Nat West described the growth as the ‘softest’ since February and only marginal. However, there was optimism from business regarding the 12-month outlook for output. It rose to its highest level in nine months. More here.
🏗️ New housing development revealed: Gloucester City Homes has bought land in Longford, just north of Gloucester, as part of a plan to deliver 17 new energy-efficient social rent homes. The housing association plans to work in partnership with developer Cape Homes and Tewkebury Borough Council on the scheme, which is supported by funding from Homes England’s Affordable Housing Programme. All homes in the scheme will be available for social rent and ‘built to the highest environmental standards’, with 35 per cent meeting enhanced accessibility standards for wheelchair users. More here.
*The Raikes Journal is the only independent news outlet in Gloucestershire approved to use the copy of the BBC local government reporting service. Why? Only only independent, credible journalistically-led platforms that meet the BBC’s high standards win that permission.
Concerns over the management of the Golden Valley Development
When local politics makes its way centre stage in a story about a major development many will begin to shudder. Opposition councillors question the Golden Valley Development plans.
Concerns have been raised over a shortfall in affordable housing linked to Cheltenham’s Golden Valley Development next to GCHQ, with critics claiming “community benefits have been eroded”.
HBD Golden Valley Limited’s outline plans for up to 576 homes and up to 1,353,002 sq ft of employment floorspace were approved by Cheltenham Borough Council last month.
The council’s flagship project is expected to create 12,000 jobs and be home to hospitality, retail businesses and 3,700 new homes.
It is also hoped that the state-of-the-art Golden Valley campus off Fiddlers Green will help secure GCHQ’s presence in the spa town for decades to come.
But opposition councillors are concerned about the proportion of affordable homes in the first phase of the project.
Officers said during the planning committee meeting last month that the development had viability issues.
