Gloucester Place
- Location: Cheltenham
- Client: Crest Nicholson – South West Region
About This Development
A high-density brownfield site in the centre of Cheltenham, which was a former Odeon Cinema, Car Showroom and workshops as well as a number of small occupied retail units.
Staged demolition and remedial works took place ahead of general site works.
This was a high specification project where attention to detail and the highest aesthetics were paramount to both the Local Planning Authority and the Developer, Crest Nicholson.
Challenges
Given the density and location of this development, a high degree of co-ordination with all other disciplines was required to achieve the aspirations of the Local Planning Authority within the space available. This was especially relevant to Architectural and Landscaping detail to ensure the Civils design aspects would complement the aesthetic nature of their designs.
Site levels were a particular challenge with little room between the existing road frontage and front doors to make the scheme Part M compliant. Good coordination with the Architects was essential to ensuring the buildings sat both naturally and complimentary to the town centre environment.
With a mix of residential and retail units, design requirements and criteria varied at close quarters to each other.
Solutions
Infiltration Drainage was utilised using a combination of conventional high capacity soakaways and permeable paving.
Layout enhancement was required, designed & tested to enable vehicle movement in a restricted streetscape.
Finite detailing of road frontages and combined walls & railings was provided for bespoke manufacture.
As with many Town & City centre brownfield sites, its redevelopment was carried out to modern drainage policies & criteria, thus ensuring a significant reduction in flood risk compared to surrounding historic properties.
