Planned: Eco-friendly dwellings for repurposed Cheltenham location
A transformative project is underway in Cheltenham, as architects and landscape architects from multidisciplinary design practice BDP have submitted a planning application to revitalize a disused school site. The proposed development aims to create a new, sustainable green neighborhood of 70 affordable homes.
The project's design focuses on meeting community needs and creating accessible green space for nearby residents. The development will include a community growing area, a green promenade, and a central open space, all designed to promote wellbeing. At the heart of the community, a new green, open space will offer a safe space for children to play and people to connect with one another.
The new neighborhood will feature a range of types of affordable housing to cater for people at all stages of life, with a mix of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5-bedroom homes. These homes are set within an eco-friendly landscape, incorporating natural habitats, public open spaces, wildflowers, trees, and hedgerows.
In line with the Future Homes Standard, all homes will be energy efficient, ensuring they are affordable to run. The project will also provide electric charging points for cars and solar panels as part of its commitment to sustainability.
The development is one of many initiatives aimed at delivering new and affordable housing in Cheltenham. The community was involved in the consultations, and their input helped shape the project's ambitious proposals. The project aims to help people struggling to get on the housing ladder, including those on waiting lists, into affordable homes.
As of July 2025, the full planning application for the proposed green neighborhood project has been submitted to the local planning authority. For the latest details and updates on the project's progress, we recommend checking local Cheltenham council planning updates or BDP’s official communications directly.
In a separate development, there was a "fantastic" pay victory ending Livv Housing strikes, marking a significant step forward for workers in the housing sector. However, this news is not directly related to the BDP-led project in Cheltenham.
- The new neighborhood, constructed from the revitalized disused school site, is designed to encourage environmental-science principles, integrating natural habitats, public open spaces, wildflowers, trees, and hedgerows into home-and-garden settings.
- As an integral part of the sustainable-living ethos, all homes in the green neighborhood will adhere to the Future Homes Standard, promoting energy-efficient buildings that are affordable to run and reduce climate-change impact.
- Staying true to the project's ambition of catering to the needs of the community, the development will include a neighborhood lifestyle feature such as a community growing area, fostering a culture of shared resources and local produce.
- By providing a central open space, the project aims to create a welcoming, neighborhood atmosphere that encourages neighborhood interactions and fosters a strong community bond, enhancing overall lifestyle and wellbeing.
