Golden Valley moves into delivery with Reserved Matters approval

The Golden Valley development in Cheltenham has secured Reserved Matters approval for its first phase, marking a key milestone as the £1 billion scheme moves from planning into delivery.

The project is being brought forward by HBD, part of Henry Boot, in partnership with Cheltenham Borough Council. It is intended to create a purpose-built cyber and technology campus linked to the nearby GCHQ, forming part of a wider innovation ecosystem focused on national security and advanced technologies.

Contractor Bowmer + Kirkland has been appointed to deliver the first phase, following outline planning consent granted in 2025.

Phase one includes the development of IDEA, a 160,000 sq ft building designed to support collaboration across sectors including cyber security, artificial intelligence and secure communications. The building is intended to bring together government, start-ups, established technology firms and academic institutions within a single environment.

Also included in the first phase is ROUTER, a mobility hub providing cycle facilities, e-bike charging, showers and real-time transport information, alongside car parking and ground floor retail and leisure uses.

In parallel, outline approval has been secured for a residential element on the northern parcel of the site. This will deliver up to 443 homes, together with land for a primary school and supporting infrastructure, forming part of a wider Garden Community vision.

Once complete, Golden Valley is expected to deliver more than 2,500 homes, around 1.25 million sq ft of commercial space and up to 12,000 jobs, alongside public realm and green infrastructure.

With Reserved Matters approval now in place, the project team will progress construction of the first phase, while work continues to identify a delivery partner for the residential component of the scheme.