Plans in for £1bn Golden Valley Development

Plans have been submitted for Cheltenham’s Golden Valley Development; the £1bn project at the heart of the government’s National Cyber Strategy.Developer HBD x Factory Ltd are looking to bring forward the expansive project alongside Cheltenham Borough Council and local partners.The proposals comprise a diverse innovation district, including more than one million sq ft of commercial space. It would attract businesses with a focus on science and technology in particular, building on the existing specialist cluster in cyber and the emerging AI, deep tech and future computing/quantum sectors.New homes would also be an important element of the project, providing more than 1,000 low-carbon properties to rent and buy.All of this would be situated within an extensive network of green open spaces, with community amenities and a new primary school also featuring in the masterplan.Separate detailed proposals for the National Cyber Innovation Centre will be submitted in the new year following last month’s £95m funding agreement for the landmark building.GCHQ’s Paul Killworth, deputy chief scientific adviser for national security, said: “GCHQ supports Cheltenham Borough Council’s vision of Golden Valley as a thriving, high-tech cluster of cyber and technology firms working across the new campus. The opportunity offered by Golden Valley will lead to a sea-change in national-security relations between government, academia and industry.”The National Cyber Innovation Centre was described as “a true international centre of innovation” in the National Cyber Strategy, and the development will also be a key part of the transformation of the intelligence community’s Science and Technology effort.”GCHQ already plays a prominent role in these sectors both locally and nationally, and it looks forward to participating in this exciting development.”Adam Brady, executive director at HBD, added: “Golden Valley is the first development of its kind to be delivered in the UK – it sits at the heart of the Government’s Cyber and Technology strategy and underpins the UK’s ambitions to become a science and technology superpower by 2030.”It’s great to see planning now submitted, marking a major milestone for this nationally significant project.”