SF Planning recently submitted a new planning application to provide a permanent home for the Lansdown Art Studio Association at Unit 23, Lansdown Industrial Estate, Cheltenham.
The proposal will refurbish and extend a long-vacant industrial building. However, its importance reaches much further. It could unlock the wider regeneration of Lansdown Industrial Estate and support the delivery of much-needed new homes in Cheltenham.
Supporting a Long-Established Creative Community
The Lansdown Art Studio Association has been part of the local community for decades. The not-for-profit organisation currently occupies premises elsewhere within the industrial estate and provides affordable studio space for artists working across a range of disciplines.
Over time, the studios have become an important creative hub in Cheltenham. The association has built strong ties with the community and provides space that would be difficult to replace elsewhere in the town.
Recognising this value, the future of the art studios became a key consideration during plans for the redevelopment of the northern part of the estate. As a result, securing a suitable replacement home for the artists was linked to the delivery of the housing scheme.
Why the New Planning Application Matters
The artists currently occupy Unit 1A . However, that building is due to be demolished as part of the redevelopment of the northern section of the estate.
SF Planning secured a resolution to grant planning permission for the wider site. As part of the associated Section 106 obligations, the developer must secure a new home for the artists.
The future of the artists and the delivery of much needed new homes on a highly sustainable but unused brownfield site are directly connected.
Breathing New Life into Unit 23
When approved, the proposal will convert the first floor of Unit 23 into approximately 300 square metres of artist studio space. The ground floor will remain in employment use, creating and maintaining jobs, and investment within the estate.
The proposal will greatly improve the appearance of this prominent building on Roman Road. As a result, it will benefit the building, the street scene and the wider area. New pedestrian and cycle connections will also provide an alternative to the existing unsegregated access. Together, these improvements will support wider ambitions for the estate’s regeneration.
Importantly, the artists would continue working in the area where they have operated for decades. This continuity would allow the association to support Cheltenham’s creative community without disruption.
Unlocking Regeneration in Cheltenham
The proposal offers benefits that extend beyond the building itself.
It would secure a long-term home for a valued community organisation. At the same time, it would bring a neglected building back into productive use, improve the appearance of the area and safeguard commercial floorspace.
Crucially, the proposal would help satisfy a key requirement of the wider redevelopment plans. In doing so, it would help unlock the delivery of new homes on the northern part of the estate.
Looking Ahead
If approved, the development would provide a practical and financially realistic solution for the artists. It would also support the next phase of regeneration at Lansdown Industrial Estate. In turn, the scheme would protect a valued cultural asset, unlock new housing and show how creative thinking can overcome viability challenges that might otherwise stall development.
For more information about this new planning application, please contact Simon Firkins.
Thanks to the following for their support with this application
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