More delays to redevelopment of historic industrial site
Permission was given to knock down the old industrial site in Cheltenham, buil a new mixed-use development with 200-plus homes and an artists' studio, so why hasn't it happened?
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The mayor of Cheltenham is “flabbergasted” at another council’s delays in redeveloping a historic industrial site amid fears a road could be resurfaced only to be dug up again once works begin.
Cheshire West And Chester Council was granted permission in January 2024 by Cheltenham Borough Council to go ahead with the demolition of Lansdown Industrial Estate in Gloucester Road to make way for 215 homes, an art studio and mixed use redevelopment of units which front onto Roman Road.
However, there have been delays in signing off the proposals for the site, which was the home of H H Martyn & Co who were famous for making the Marble Arch gates, redecorating Buckingham Palace and manufacturing Spitfire propellers during the Second World War.
County Councillor David Willingham (LD, St Mark’s and St Peter’s), who is also the spa town’s mayor, asked for an update at the planning committee meeting at the Municipal Offices on September 18.
More than 20 months after the planning application was approved its decision notice has still not been issued.
Cllr Willingham said: “Given the local blight caused by uncertainty surrounding this application and the problems this is causing for local residents, could the chair please provide a public response detailing exactly what the problems are with issuing the decision notice for this application?
Chris Gomm, head of planning at the Borough Council, said planning decisions cannot be issued until the legal agreement for developer contributions has been completed.
He said permission has not been issued for the Lansdown Industrial Estate because negotiations regarding the content of the section 106 agreement are complex, ongoing and yet to be completed.
Mr Gomm said among the reasons the applicant has confirmed that they are unable to build a standalone new artists’ studio due to financial viability issues.
“Discussions have been ongoing regarding alternative provision for the artists including the possibility of converting an existing building to a studio,” he said.
“The s106 Agreement relating to the redevelopment of Lansdown Industrial Estate will need to be amended to take into account the alternative scheme but those alternative arrangements do not have planning permission.
“The developer is yet to submit a planning application for the alternative scheme and until they do so (and it is approved) the Lansdown Industrial Estate s106 Agreement cannot be completed.
“It is the view of officers that the matter is taking an excessive amount of time to resolve and as such a final deadline of October 24, 2025 for the submission of the aforementioned planning application (the alternative artists’ studio) has been issued.
“If this deadline is not met officers are minded to refer the planning application back to the November meeting of the Planning Committee; the agent has been made aware of this.”
Councillor Willingham asked a follow up question at the planning committee meeting on September 18.
He said he was glad to see it coming back to the committee in November if there is no progress before then.
“I’m flabbergasted how long this has taken,” he said.
“The reason this really matters to the residents of St Marks is it would be utterly irresponsible for the County Council to resurface Rowanfield Road, which is in an absolute dire state, knowing part of that road is going to be dug up for utilities.”
He said a newly resurfaced road would also be trashed by heavy construction traffic.
And he hopes to get a “cast iron” guarantee that Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council would have to pay towards resurfacing if that road is repaired before the site’s redevelopment begins.
Cheshire West and Chester Council declined to comment.
A spokesperson said the council does not wish to comment on an ongoing planning permission decision.
By Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter for Gloucestershire. carmelo.garcia@reachplc.com