Construction has started on the first phase of The Golden Valley Development, a £1 billion cyber and technology campus in Cheltenham that Cheltenham Borough Council and development partner HBD, part of Henry Boot, announced plans for in 2025.
Both have confirmed that work is now underway, with Bowmer + Kirkland appointed as main contractor for phase one. Once complete, Golden Valley is expected to create 12,000 jobs, help grow Gloucestershire’s tech output to £2.7bn and generate an additional £151m in local spend. Alongside the economic benefits, Golden Valley will also provide about 1,000 homes for the local community, 32 per cent of which will be affordable.
Phase one will include IDEA, Golden Valley’s Innovation Centre. The building is already 68 per cent reserved and is scheduled to complete in early 2028. The first phase will also include ROUTER, a transport hub that will support sustainable travel across Golden Valley, with cycling facilities, e-bike charging, real-time transport information, 453 parking spaces, and retail and leisure amenities for occupiers, residents and the wider community.
Hamer Boot, managing director at HBD, said: “Reaching the point where Golden Valley is now a live construction site is a major achievement and reflects the strength of collaboration between the public and private sector partners involved in bringing this project forward. Phase one is an important first step in creating a world-class cyber and technology campus. It will drive significant investment, provide new workspaces, support employment opportunities and deliver the infrastructure needed for businesses, researchers and innovators to locate, collaborate and grow here. IDEA and ROUTER will deliver practical benefits from the outset, from skills and training opportunities to sustainable travel infrastructure, while supporting the development of future ground-breaking technologies.”
IDEA is expected to be 50 per cent more energy efficient than typical workspaces, reducing annual carbon emissions by around 200 tonnes, while 60 per cent of Golden Valley will be dedicated to open green space.
The wider Garden Community vision will also include sustainable new homes, employment space, a new primary school and a range of amenities for the community.
Councillor Rowena Hay, leader at Cheltenham Borough Council, said: “The start of construction is an important moment for Cheltenham and for Gloucestershire and demonstrates our commitment to creating an internationally recognised development that will deliver lasting benefits for the local, regional and national economy.”
“This is a nationally significant development but its impact will be felt very locally. Golden Valley is about creating opportunity for local people through new jobs, affordable homes, school programmes, skills partnerships and initiatives such as the recently launched University of Gloucestershire’s Golden Valley scholarship. We want more people across the county to see a future for themselves in cyber, technology and innovation.”
Image source: HBD
