Design for 107 new homes on Travis Perkins site in Cheltenham is 'disappointing'
PLANS to build 107 homes on land near Cheltenham town centre have been blasted as "unimaginative" and "disappointing" by the town's architectural guardians.
Cheltenham Civic Society has launched the broadside in the direction of Taylor Wimpey's proposals for the Travis Perkins site, in Gloucester Road, which have been formally submitted to the borough council.
John Henry, chairman of the society's planning forum, which comments on all important applications in the town, said such an important site warranted something better.
He said: "The opportunity to create something really impressive on this significant town centre site has been lost.
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"Both the layout and the design are unimaginative and very standard.
"We're not against a high density of housing at the site. But the design of the majority of the homes reflects that of the properties in Gloucester Road – not a style we feel should necessarily be replicated. Overall we just feel that there is a chance of something so much better here and are disappointed with plans as they stand."
Taylor Wimpey's plans consist of a range of two bedroom flats, flats over garages and three or four bed family homes. Travis Perkins would move to a new base on the vacant Bonella Works site in Tewkesbury Road as part of the proposal.
However, the firm's relocation would hinge on the housing proposal going ahead.
The Civic Society was much more positive about plans for the Bonella Works site.
Mr Henry said: "We quite liked the design. Given our concern to enhance the Tewkesbury Road approach to Cheltenham whenever possible we think it important that trees should be retained and enhanced on the Tewkesbury Road frontage.
"This is an important gateway into Cheltenham and the current Bonella Works site has looked fairly sorry for quite a long time, so this would be a considerable improvement."
Taylor Wimpey defended the Gloucester Road plans.
On the planning application it said: "The vision for the development is to provide a high quality environment where people will aspire to, and be proud, to live in."
A decision on the housing plans will be made by April 25.
11 Comments
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by tishwash
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 9:56PM
“by paulpalmerWednesday, February 13 2013, 5:18PM
"1,652 empty homes in Cheltenham. Should not the council be helping to bring these back into use before worrying about new build developments?
http://tinyurl.com/ag5r5h3"
Random statistic is random....”
by paulpalmer
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 5:18PM
“1,652 empty homes in Cheltenham. Should not the council be helping to bring these back into use before worrying about new build developments?
http://tinyurl.com/ag5r5h3”
by dontyaknow
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 9:22PM
“Elgoog - have you read that book? I'm intrigued to know which are the other 2 "most beautiful urban areas of Britain" - although if I had to guess, I would say it must be Bath and Edinburgh?
"But the design of the majority of the homes reflects that of the properties in Gloucester Road – not a style we feel should necessarily be replicated."
I personally have found the properties on Gloucester Road to be attractive, a nice mix of good quality, good looking Victorian and Edwardian properties. In all honesty, I wish that more recent development had've been like Gloucester Road - plenty of trees, good looking properties, wide and straight roads.
Some of the post war efforts have been laughable to say the least, especially the obsession with building cul-de-sacs when so many people own cars.
If these properties are like other properties on the road, then I welcome them more so than some silly contemporary effort that looks dated within a decade.
The Civic Society sounds like a joke, we should set up an alternative society.”
by tishwash
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 7:19PM
“We need affordable housing in Cheltenham, these will help achieve that by having more houses, why do people complain about everything”
by Cheltonia
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 4:01PM
“The developers announced at their previous displays that they would be using 'Cheltenham vernacular". I have as yet not noticed any regency reference or parapets, just bog standard Bishops Cleeve Whimpey. The houses adjacent to Malvern Road are too tall, and too near to neighbouring properties”
by elgoog
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 3:42PM
“http://tinyurl.com/cbpcs6t”
by 2dooks
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 12:06PM
“Since when did housing have to be "imaginative"? I thought it was all about the "need for housing" that needs solving in our area...........”
by DEvans
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 11:50AM
“Can I ask what is the pointof the Civic Society?
they cant actially stop development that is on private land - all they can do is moan.
And some of the public building and social housing of past is hardly of critcal importance now is it.
What the civic society do is hand our awards - well what a lovely job - i could do that too as they all deserve a medal!
They gave a medal to the Block of flats on Honeybourne way (half of the aparmenst don't even get direct) and gave a nod to St georges gate on Gloucester road which is an eyesore and dwarfs the victorian teraces around it.
Developers tell architects to squeeze as many dwellings into a space as they can a the minimum price to the builder, apply for double the number of houses they want or need so we think we have won a vitory when they are aske dto make a small reduction and cbc dont have the vision, the balls or the money to appeal as we always lose and lay down dead.
Read the photography book 'Cheltenham Betrayed' by Tim Mowli and discover how little is learned from our master's bad and sad mistakes
Read it and weep.”
by valhalla2010
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 11:14AM
“Very well said AndyPrestbury- 'live their lives in peace'! I bet the concrete monstrosity next to the town hall was once thought to be 'avant garde', but now it is a horrible eye-sore that we could really do without.”
by QuedgeleyGuy
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 11:11AM
“Better to have this than another Bakers Quay (Gloucester) that is a disgrace to the entire County.”