Cheltenham Campaigners call on officials to reject plans for homes on the historic site of a world-renowned manufacturer
There are plans for over 200 at the former H. H. Martyn and Co. Ltd. factory buildings.
Last updated 16th Sep 2022
Campaigners are calling on council leaders to reject plans to build 215 homes on the historic site of a world-renowned manufacturer in Cheltenham.
Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council wants permission from Cheltenham Borough Council to demolish some of the former H. H. Martyn and Co. Ltd. factory buildings to pave the way for new houses.
These buildings are on what is now the Lansdown Industrial Estate and a large part which will be pulled down if the scheme get the go-ahead.
But Cheltenham Civic Society has blasted Cheshire West and Chester Council over their plans and want them to reconsider.
The civic society says the council would not allow “such a poor-quality housing development to desecrate” any of its own heritage in Chester.
They have written to every councillor at Cheltenham Borough Council to reject the scheme and to all those at Cheshire West and Chester Council asking for the plans to be withdrawn and to reconsider their approach.
Chairman Andrew Booton, said: “There is no way that Chester would allow such a poor-quality housing development to desecrate any of its heritage. So we don’t think they should allow their pension fund to foist this scheme on Cheltenham and thereby destroy much of what’s left of our industrial
heritage.”
He said a document has been sent to councillors which demonstrates why the site is historically important, criticises the poor quality of Chester’s housing scheme, and draws attention to the poor consultation and heritage appraisal.
It also highlights the environmental need to reuse some of the buildings, rather than release the thousands of tonnes of embodied carbon in the existing buildings, Mr Booton added.
“We are not against the redevelopment of this site, but we want to see it done responsibly with due respect to our remaining industrial heritage. So much so that we have also put forward an alternative approach that could be just as financially rewarding to the pension fund.
“We would like Chester to engage properly with key interest groups such as the Civic Society, reconsider their plans and come back with a much better scheme next year.”
The Lansdown Industrial Estate is owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council and forms part of an investment portfolio which generates financial returns to pay pensions for more than 100,000 people.
A spokesperson for the Cheshire Pension Fund said: “The redevelopment proposals have been subject to an extensive consultation exercise with local stakeholders and the decision to proceed, or not, is ultimately one for Cheltenham Borough Council’s planning committee.”