Former Cheltenham corner shop to become two four-bed houses despite protest

Planners at Cheltenham Borough Council have given the green light to developers to knock down a corner shop in the town and turn the plot into two new four-bedroom homes, despite widespread objections from residents and some public authorities. The controversial development of the former Nisa shop in Charlton Kings was approved Monday, June 19.

Concerns were raised about the impact this residential development would have on their neighbours’ natural light, as well as their impact on parking in an area that residents say is already lacking in provision, when plans were initially submitted in October, 2022. After revised plans reduced the height of the buildings and altered designs, many residents still raised objections, as did Charlton Kings Parish Council.

The Cirencester Road Nisa building in Charlton Kings has lain empty for five years, with various plans to change the use of the site unsuccessful in the years since. The corner shop originally closed when a new Sainsbury’s Local opened up nearby, making the site’s food and retail use redundant.

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Previous plans to turn the former Nisa store into a block of eight flats were withdrawn in January after widespread objections, including some who said it looked like a prison. The new design sees two semi-detached four-bedroom homes, with a reduced elevation, take over the 185 Cirencester Road site.

The parish council objected to the revised proposals, saying: “The committee notes the improvements to the loss of light to the neighbouring properties’ windows. However, the proposal does not address the concerns raised about the overdevelopment of the site, with the provision of only one parking space for four bed dwellings.

“As has been previously stated, and contrary to claims made in the application, on-street parking in the area is extremely tight, and is due to become even more so with the introduction of further parking restrictions on Cirencester Road, Newcourt Road & Bafford Lane. Given the pressure on on-street parking, this development would have an unreasonably detrimental effect on the amenity of surrounding residents.

“This objection would be resolved through the creation of smaller dwellings or increased off-road parking provision. The Committee requests that this application is considered by the CBC Planning Committee.”

Though an objection from the parish council typically results in a hearing before the planning committee, the chairs of the committee decided that the planning officers could make the decision under delegated powers. Due to a shortfall in available land in Cheltenham to develop for residential homes, there is a greater weight on officers’ decisions in favour of developing disused in-fill sites, such as the 5-year vacant lot on Cirencester Road.

Residents of a property neighbouring the currently disused site said that, although the new plans “allow us to be less affected by the reduced amount of light to our downstairs living areas”, the impact the development would have on parking in an already congested area meant they were still objecting to the development. They pointed out that there are 94 parking spaces on nearby roads, which already have 90 homes on them.

Developers were granted permission for the development of the site, with conditions attached requiring the submission of further demolition, soundproofing, and construction plans before the former corner shop can be torn down.

You can view the full plans on the borough council’s planning website, using the reference 22/01979/FUL.