A former council-owned car park in Prestbury has returned to the market, now priced at over twice its original sale value as a residential plot with planning permission—fueling local frustration over worsening parking issues.
Cheltenham Borough Council sold the Idsall Drive car park last year after deeming it surplus to requirements and costing taxpayers approximately £4,000 annually to maintain. Despite strong opposition from residents urging the council to reconsider, the sale proceeded.
Shortly after, Adrian Gillman submitted plans for a self-build home on the site. The approved plans feature a house with four en-suite bedrooms on the first floor and a loft containing a double bedroom and bathroom.
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However, Councillor Stan Smith (People Against Bureaucracy, Prestbury) warns that the existing parking shortages are exacerbated by proposals to introduce double yellow lines on several nearby streets—including Mill Street, Linden Avenue, and The Burgage—which would further reduce parking options.
Highways recently revealed plans to paint these restrictions across Prestbury’s streets, with their parking survey including the now-closed 20-space car park. “It’s a joke what the council has done,” Smith lamented. “They ignored residents’ petitions, including one led by former county councillor Stephan Fifield, and dismissed our concerns about the impact on the village.”
Residents echo this frustration, reporting chaotic parking conditions. Many now park unsafely, including on the bank by the war memorial opposite the former car park. “If double yellow lines are enforced, where will people park then? Nobody has thought this through—the council simply doesn’t care,” Smith added.
Cheltenham Borough Council stated the site was identified as surplus in 2020 as part of their COVID-19 recovery efforts. After surveys confirmed low usage, the car park was marketed with a local firm and sold unconditionally for £282,500 in late 2023, well above competing bids.
Now listed for resale at £600,000 on Rightmove, the property is promoted as a “unique opportunity to build a bespoke home in Prestbury.” A council spokesperson defended the original sale, citing market conditions, planning costs, and risks, and emphasizing that the sale removed financial liabilities, allowing funds to be redirected to frontline services. They also confirmed that planning consent requires the future homeowner to occupy the property for a minimum period.
Despite these assurances, Prestbury residents remain angry over the mounting parking chaos triggered by the council’s decisions, highlighting a deep divide between local governance and community needs.