Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson has voiced strong concerns over the future of the town’s only independent artists who risk losing their studios amid redevelopment plans for Lansdown Industrial Estate. The proposal to demolish the estate on Gloucester Road and replace it with 215 new homes, an art studio, and commercial units received initial approval in January 2024, but recent negotiations have cast doubt on the artists’ relocation arrangements.
Lansdown Industrial Estate holds historical significance as the former site of H H Martyn & Co, renowned for crafting iconic works such as the Marble Arch gates, redecorating Buckingham Palace, and manufacturing Spitfire propellers during World War II. The redevelopment aims to transform this landmark, integrating residential living with creative spaces.
Originally, the independent artists opposed the redevelopment. However, they withdrew objections after Cheltenham Borough Council’s cabinet supported securing new studio spaces on the site itself. Now, applicants Cheshire West and Chester Council, managing the Cheshire Pension Fund, are in talks with Cheltenham Borough Council to alter the existing plans, potentially relocating the artists offsite or compromising the studio provisions.
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MP Wilkinson has appealed directly to the council to uphold the original commitments, emphasizing the importance of preserving the artists’ creative homes. “The artists’ initial objection was resolved through a deal negotiated in good faith with council support,” he stated. “The Cheshire Pension Fund now appears to be reconsidering these terms, which risks leaving our town’s only independent art collective homeless.”
Welcoming continued dialogue, Councillor Mike Collins, cabinet member for planning and building control, reiterated that the council remains actively engaged in ongoing negotiations under Section 106 agreements related to the artist studios. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Cheshire Pension Fund affirmed efforts to collaborate with both the artists and planning officers to identify suitable relocation options within the redevelopment framework.
As talks proceed, the fate of Lansdown’s independent artists remains a focal point of community interest, highlighting the challenge of balancing heritage, housing, and cultural preservation in Cheltenham.