D-Day looms for Cheltenham regeneration
D-Day is looming in the battle to fund the multi-million pound regeneration of St Paul's in Cheltenham.
Bosses behind the plans to rebuild Manser Street and Hudson Street are calling on the Government to stump up the cash, knowing that refusal could scupper the project.
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VISION: An artist's impression of the St Paul's regeneration and (below) Manser Street as it looks today
Informal approaches are expected to be made to the Homes and Communities Agency within a few days if Cheltenham Borough Council's planning committee rubber-stamps the scheme tomorrow.
The long-awaited redevelopment is being led by Cheltenham Borough Homes.
Assistant chief executive, Paul Stephenson, said he was confident the funding would be approved, but conceded the decision was ultimately out of his hands.
He said: "We are doing our best to ensure everything is in place before we make that approach to give us the best possible chance.
"All the signs we have indicate there should not be a problem, especially as the St Paul's bid is a large regeneration project and a significant local priority.
"But we also accept the HCA could turn around and say the cash is not available, and there is very little we can do about that."
Plans to rebuild three streets in St Paul's – Manser Street, Hudson Street and Crabtree Place – were first floated more than four years ago.
Sixty-seven houses have already been pulled down to make room for the improvements and councillors will consider proposals to build 48 new homes in Manser Street and Hudson Street at tomorrow's planning meeting.
However, work will only start if the money from the HCA, which will make up the bulk of the multi-million pound cost, comes through as hoped next year.
The Government body has nearly £500 million to dish out to social housing projects across the South West over the next two years.
An HCA spokeswoman said: "Applications for funding take a few weeks to process. Whether the money is available will depend on a number of factors."
As well as funding from the HCA, CBH is depending on a cash gift of up to £1.5 million from the borough council's reserves.
It is also negotiating a loan through the council, which will be paid off using the rental income from the St Paul's redevelopment when it is completed.
Gordon Malcolm, CBH's project manager for new build, said the level of funding from the HCA would dictate how the project moved forward.
He said: "The difficulty is we do not know exactly what, if anything, the HCA will be able to give us. We have had to prepare for the best and worst-case scenarios.
"As long as we get the funding from the HCA, we are confident we have enough money to meet almost any eventuality and there is nothing which could derail it.
"But we do need funding from the HCA. That is essential."
OPINION, P8
18 Comments
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by kim, st pauls chelt
Saturday, December 19 2009, 5:33PM
“fed up of glos how can you run the people of st pauls down comming from glos for a start? the people who live in st pauls are decent people and a lot of them work keep your horrible comments to yourself or go and meet the decent people down there and i think you will find there not all tarred with the same brush.the council are to blame for the state of st.pauls not the residents.they pulled the houses down they made it look like a bomb site theve left it to rot so blame them first”
by St Pauls Resident, Top End
Thursday, December 17 2009, 2:27PM
“What would Laura recommend than with law and order, I wish that I could leave the area as well. We cant let vandals rule the rest. There must be a answer somewhere. Not so long ago I read that St Pauls Cheltenham was one of the top 20 most deprived areas.
Is it any wonder that vigilantes go around neighbourhoods in some towns to maintain law and order. Not that I would recommend that.
I have lived in the area over 20 years, it wasn¿t always this bad, not sure where or when it went wrong. It doesn¿t help when reporters make out St Pauls is ok, makes me sick when I hear St Pauls community Spirt facts are as reported it is anything but.
Why spend so much on the area before the underlying problems are still evident. Those who deny them than cant live in the area.
How many houses in Manser or Hudson street have had fires set in them or how many windows broken or fittings stolen from them. All I can say is when the builders start they need to employ some security to keep items safe.
Why is it that others don¿t do anything to stop them, or report them as some must know whom they are
Sorry to say until it stops than the money might as well be thrown in the lake.
If St Pauls is no worse the any where else why move? Could it be as you say its out of our hands than surely its about time someone states we have a problem and we are dealing with it. Or it will go on.”
by Laura, St Pauls, Cheltenham
Thursday, December 17 2009, 12:36PM
“I am a St Pauls resident and am one of the ones who go out to work and pay taxes to come home to find more vandalism thus making the area looking a mess.
We are all fed up of the antisocial behaviour (yes there are more people than you think in the area that are hardworkers) but again, its out of our hands.
Its not fair that those who commit the crimes make the rest of us feel belittled - this adds fuel for the people who clearly dont understand and hence we are constantly thrown offensive comments.
Luckily myself and family are hopefully planning to move out of the area next year but in all honesty, you get the same stuff happen everywhere so there is no clear escape!
A Fed Up Chelt Resident - in response to your comment - they did once put in a 'police station' in the area (down my street in fact) but they were driven out due to the constant vandalism and abuse, so trying again just would not work...”
by A Fed up Chelt Resident, Between St Pauls and Pittville
Thursday, December 17 2009, 11:14AM
“If they cant get the government to front up the cash needed, than why not sale the land to builders whom can build and sale houses to private buyers with a option maybe to rent a few. This is prime land in Cheltenham, it backs on to Pittville park also within walking distance to the Swimming Pool plus the sports club and of course the Brewery and town centre.
I was also the impression as St pauls Observer that was going to be a mix of private and rented, hopefully than it may curb a few of the residents whom thrive with anti social behaviour as some are decent citizens there. As is the case its just the few that give the rest a bad name.
I believe if a few of our visitors that came to see Pittville park if only they walked further across to exit at the bottom by the Golf Course than the Council Estate would never been allowed to be as riddled as it is. I came up Hanover Street a few day back its strewn with rubbish.
Just look at the houses that are near to the new Dunalley school they well suit the area, yet just a 5 min walk down the road its completely different. I would also say we do need a police station based in St Pauls as we are mostly forgotten area of Cheltenham, that drug dealers , and the rest come into St Pauls to do their crimes. As we only now have Whaddon to rely on, we only ever see PCSO whom have no powers of arrest, I would get rest of them and employ a few more policeman to come into St Pauls.
This than may deter crime and the anti social behaviour we have plaguing St Pauls.”
by g, ex chelt
Thursday, December 17 2009, 11:02AM
“Bill - having a good job just is not just about 'Luck' or having things fall into your lap, it is about hard graft and effort...if more people realised this in this country, instead of waiting to have things handed to them on platter things might be different. as regards st pauls, i'm sure there are many people there who lead normal lives - working to support their family, etc- but there at least as many who live by profiteering, from whichever means - i was beaten up or had things stolen many times as a child of less than 10 going to play rugby on sunday morning or going to the swimming pool, having to walk the gauntlet that was tommy taylor lane 30 years on the place has not changed, except i am no longer the size that they would prefer to pick on. Many issues there need ot addressed, not least the housing and tenants - 3 of whom on the front page of this good paper just this week lived there for a looooooooooooooooooong time.”