By C
Concerns have been raised over a shortfall in affordable housing linked to Cheltenham’s Golden Valley Development next to GCHQ as “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.
And as a result the proportion of affordable homes would be 26 per cent and not the 35 per cent standard.
They also said the scheme would not fulfil the entire contribution request for the improvements to junction 10 of the M5.
Cheltenham Green Party has since issued a warning about what they call the “erosion of promised community benefits” from the Golden Valley development.
One of their councillors was the only member of the planning committee to vote against the proposals when social housing provisions were being watered down.
Councillor Jan Foster (G, Prestbury) said at the planning meeting in July: “In principle, I support the development of this land for housing, but I am concerned about the shortfall in affordable housing.
“If we and our partners don’t keep to our own policy how can we expect other developers to?
“With regard to developer profit, perhaps it is time that developers accepted lower profits than have become considered acceptable.
“For this reason I cannot support the application.”
The Greens say they are concerned about the management of the Golden Valley development because promised benefits to today’s residents were already being compromised.
The dilution of social housing commitments is a warning sign of what today’s Cheltenham residents can expect from a project they are financially underwriting, they said.
“This development was sold to Cheltenham residents on the basis of significant community benefits. Today’s council taxpayers are underwriting tomorrow’s promises, yet those promises are being broken,” a Green Party spokesperson said.
“The Liberal Democrats’ unwillingness to hold developers to pre-planning promises stems from their political investment in the project’s perceived success.”
Major developments cabinet member Alisha Lewis (LD, Oakley) said they have increased the percentage of affordable housing across the southern parcel by 26 per cent through negotiations and are continuing to explore every option to deliver more in later phases.
The first phase of the project includes a significant investment in infrastructure, which is crucial for the future delivery of important assets, ranging from a new primary school to improved libraries and green spaces, coming in later phases of the southern parcel, she said.
“These contributions will directly benefit the local community, and while the final figures are still being agreed, the scale of investment is something we’re proud of,” she said.
“Phase 1 is the first of many—and as it’s focused on commercial space such as the Innovation Centre (IDEA) and Mobility Hub (ROUTER), with no housing being delivered in this initial phase.
“Future phases will focus on the delivery of housing including affordable homes, as well as further commercial space.
“We’re working with local housing experts to make sure the homes we do build meet Cheltenham’s real needs, from accessible homes to larger properties for families, and a mix of different tenures.
“Our priority is not just to build homes, but to build the right ones, for the people who need them most.
“Our wider commitment to affordable housing is clear: Cheltenham Borough Council is building more purpose-built affordable homes than ever before, with a new wave of developments moving steadily through the planning process.”