Cheltenham Borough

New Sustainable Home - 4 The Park

Client: Private residential

This site was a challenge due to contraints in a number of areas. We worked for two separate clients, each with their own vision for the site.

Through careful navigation of heritage, environmental and community constraints, and working with a network of wider consultants, we achieved planning consent for both designs, two years apart. The original design was the work of  LTS Architects, and the second, now built-out design was from Daniel Jew Architect.

Project

OVERVIEW

Located in the northern part of The Park, within Cheltenham’s Principal Urban Area and the Park Character Area of the Central Conservation Area, 4 The Park lies south of the grade II listed Cornerways, a former zookeeper’s house built around 1865. Historically, it was a vegetable garden within the gounds of the listed building. The site posed several challenges:

  • Heritage Sensitivity: Building a new dwelling within the curtilage of Cornerways and in close proximity to other listed buildings needed a sensitive design protecting the conservation area’s character and appearance and ensuring minimal impact on the setting of the listed buildings.
  • Tree Protection: High-value Category A and B trees, including Italian cypress, Lawson cypress, Scots pine, and yews, needed safeguarding. Prior-approved removals were limited to low-quality category C2 trees.
  • Neighbouring Amenities: Adjacent properties to the south and to the east, required minimal impact on privacy, light, and structural stability.
  • Sustainability Standards: Both applications had to exceed building regulations to meet the clients’ aspirations and align with local plan policy and Cheltenham’s carbon-neutral goals.
Route to Consent

Both applications complied with the Gloucester, Cheltenham, and Tewkesbury Joint Core Strategy (JCS) and the Cheltenham Plan. Initially, the 2022 application leveraged JCS policy SD10’s support for infill development. The following 2023 application built on this precedent, emphasising reduced height and enhanced sustainability. Robust submissions, including heritage statements, tree surveys, landscape strategies, and design & access statements, addressed design, heritage, trees, and sustainability measures.

Proactive engagement proved vital for both applications. Pre-application discussions shaped the 2022 design, while community engagement secured local support in 2023. As a result, the 2023 application gained approval in February 2024.

Ultimately, the transformation of 4 The Park demonstrates how SF Planning can secure planning consent for our clients’ visions, even in tightly constrained and sensitive settings. The resulting ‘forever home’ sets a standard for low-impact, high-quality development in Cheltenham’s conservation area.