Multi-million pound Cheltenham revamp plans for North Place Development are 'mundane, disappointing and flawed' say Civic Society
MUNDANE, disappointing and flawed are how plans to redevelop two Cheltenham car parks have been described by the city's heritage experts.
The comments on the multi-million pound plans for North Place and Portland Street were made by Cheltenham's Civic Society.
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North Place
Cheltenham Development Taskforce – the group behind the revamp plans – want to turn the site into a supermarket and new homes.
There would also be a public square, 300 parking spaces and new bus stops.
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But John Henry, chairman of the civic trust's planning forum, said: "Overall, we are disappointed by the whole scheme.
"We had hoped for an iconic development for this important site which could sit proudly alongside the traditional historic architecture of Cheltenham, as called for in the council's own design brief for the site.
"Instead, there is a set of buildings which are little more inspired than many mundane proposals regularly put forward elsewhere in the town.
"The whole scheme fails to create an important sense of space, and does not have the presence and grandeur which is needed for it to complement the rest of the town centre.
Flawed
"We do not consider that the latest comparatively minor amendments are sufficient to rescue what is a basically flawed scheme."
The society also said that the bus stops would be in the wrong part of town.
They argued that the design for the supermarket is "bland" and that designers should come up with some more "distinct and imaginative".
Mr Henry added: "North Place will become significantly busier than at present.
"Although we are anxious to see the site developed, we are unable to give our support to the submitted scheme."
But Jeremy Williamson, managing director of Cheltenham Development Taskforce, said: "The task force has promoted this site and believes that the proposals reflect the general principles of the development brief and aims to balance the various concerns including planning issues, deliverability and financial viability.
"We welcome the views of the Civic Society and others as part of the planning process, but also recognise that they may be focused on a single issue, in this case design.
"In such cases, there is no right answer.
"For example, the proposed food store entrance, while not welcomed by the Civic Society, is supported by the Cheltenham architects' panel.
"Equally the Civic Society has, as part of the process, made a range of helpful comments which the developers have taken on board as the scheme has developed."
20 Comments
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by Jewbacca
Friday, February 15 2013, 1:15PM
“GrumblingNora - so basically everybody should agree with you?
And what's this about the planners being busybodies? IT'S THEIR JOB - they make a decision based on the law. If you don't like it, exercise your right to vote.”
by raidermanuk
Friday, February 15 2013, 12:46PM
“I see TiG have changed the picture having removed the plan. Suspect it was the wrong plan!
GrumblingNora
"NO to car parks"
So where do you think all the new visitors to town will park? In a street near you maybe?”
by GrumblingNora
Friday, February 15 2013, 11:04AM
“Anyone watching the car crash that is "The Planners" on Thursday nights, often focusing on Cheltenham and Stroud, will realise what a bunch of out-of-touch, risible, cardigan-wearing, meddling busy-bodies they are, playing at having power and imposing their own prejudices on others - I can't imagine who gave these people influence over developments that will change people's lives.
CBC is the worst council I have ever suffered as a resident and this decision over North Street only reinforces that.
Having just visited Valencia, Cardiff and Budapest, I come back to Gloucestershire feeling utterly let down by the lack of architectural vision and imagination in our leaders. With that kind of budget and the freedom to experiment with top architects in a large space, why oh why do they come up with the lowest common denominator? Again?
I HATE the new Glos vernacular, the pseudo-cottage thing round greens with a playing card's space between them, but even that's better than what's proposed here.
NO to a supermarket (I like the idea of a market hall - we must be the only town I've been to in years with no covered market as the centre of a town), NO to car parks, NO to bland housing.
YES to something truly imaginative that people might visit the town to see - attractive market hall, outlet centre, art collaboration, gardens and lake for civic amenity, space for small local businesses to gain a town centre presence, pop-up stalls, fashion shows, exhibition space - ANYTHING but the usual supermarket-car park-ugly housing combo.”
by dontyaknow
Thursday, February 14 2013, 6:24PM
“elgoog - I purchased said book from eBay for a fiver after you mentioned in reference to Gloucester Road site the other day. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow so I can have a good read over the weekend.
Cheltenham has been betrayed (as someone mentions lower high st) since the war, but sadly many other towns and cities have too - Gloucester being a fine example.”
by elgoog
Thursday, February 14 2013, 10:34AM
“Read CHELTENHAM BETRAYED by Timothy Mowl (its available in the public library). Why should we expect this to be different?”
by AndyPrestbury
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 11:03PM
“@Cheltonia "A delivery yard that backs onto a late Georgian terrace in a conservation area with proposed operating times of 6am.-midnight" - I have to totally agree with you this means that people in Northfield Terrace will have a maximum of 6 hours sleep as the supermarket will push the limits of when it can have deliveries, and using high powered lights in the delivery yard. Plus with the delivery road running directly behind the houses, it will almost certainly cause structural damage to the foundations to these old houses from the vibrations of the vehicles.”
by SChelt
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 9:02PM
“I must be looking a different design to the rest of you, I think the glass atrium looks ok. Not sure how they imagine St Margarets Road is suitable for pedestrians just strolling across the road as they show in their pictures or why a superstore is needed, maybe a "market hall" for independent businesses that complement the centre would have been more suitable.”
by Squirrel5678
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 6:28PM
“Last line of most recent public comment from the Architects Panel (on CBC's own website) "6. Recommendation We could not support the application in its current form."”
by Quasi2010
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 6:25PM
“When will the council ever realise that building on car parks is counter productive?
No car parks = no shoppers/commuters/tourists= no trade.
How much simpler can that be?”
by Abby-7
Wednesday, February 13 2013, 5:20PM
“We need to stop this appalling development. This land is owned by the people of Cheltenham. It is hard to believe that councillors would even consider giving the green light to such a diabolical application. It's so important that people make it clear to the council that this is not what we want and the 'task force' must go back to the drawing board. Please, please sign the on-line petition to stop this development. The application is due to be heard next Thursday 21.02.13. If enough people act, the development will be stopped.
ONLINE PETITION-
http://tinyurl.com/b8z5fc6
FACEBOOK PAGE-
https://http://tinyurl.com/c3lcv93”