Published on 9th May 2011

Five bidders have been short listed to develop proposals for North Place and Portland Street.

This is another key step taken by the borough council, in partnership with the Cheltenham Development Taskforce, for the regeneration of the sites which are currently used as car parks.

The short listing comes after formal marketing of the sites. The five bidders have been short listed to develop proposals in line with the development brief adopted by full council in 2010, following public consultation.

The bidders are generally consortia that have come together to make proposal for the sites. They have been selected on the basis of their previous experience of developing mixed use schemes in town centres and their financial strength to deliver such projects.

The five consortia are:
 Augur Buchler
 British Land/Stanhope
 Morrisons/Galliford Try
 Muse developments
 Salmon Harvester/Berkeley Homes

The council has established minimum criteria that must be delivered on the site, endorsed by public consultation. These include: a minimum 300 space car park; a minimum of 100 homes, of which 40% will be affordable; a bus node; public space; all delivered to high standards of design and sustainability.

Much of this requirement will be funded through the potential commercial uses on the remainder of the site.

The five bidders will now work-up their initial proposals and costing and from this, two will be selected against design quality and financial considerations to go forward to a final stage by the end of July 2011.

The final two short listed schemes will be open for public comments from 22 August to 9 September 2011; more details will follow soon.

Councillor John Rawson, cabinet member for built environment commented: "This is a hugely important development scheme that has the potential to transform and enhance the town centre. We are delighted that organisations of such a high calibre are keen to work with us to deliver this scheme."

Any residual capital receipts from this site may be targeted at improving the streets and pavements around Boots Corner if Gloucestershire County Council is successful in the bid to the Department of Transport for funding towards work necessary to close Boots Corner to through traffic.

 

 

For media enquiries, contact: Katie Sandey, communications team leader, telephone 01242 775050, email [email protected]