Regenerating the public realm of the High Street (West End)
In partnership with the Cheltenham Development Task Force and the Cheltenham West End Partnership, the Townscape team have delivered a number of improvements to the Lower High Street area since 2015:
St George’s Square
The railings on St George's Square were removed and 5 new cycle stands installed. This has been the first step towards creating a welcoming gateway for the Lower High Street.
St George's Square before public realm improvements (Image: Google Streetview)
St George's Square after public realm improvements (Image: Google Streetview)
Pocket Parks
The Cheltenham West End Partnership were successful in a bid to receive grant funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government (now MHCLG), for the creation of two “pocket parks” in the Lower High Street.
The two no-through roads of St Paul’s Street South and Park Street were resurfaced and levelled. Timber planters, constructed by Men in Sheds, were then installed. These planters, filled with pollinator-friendly planting, are now maintained by the Cheltenham West End Partnership and Green Space volunteers. This form of planting has been seen as a precursor to the Townscape team’s Habitat Cheltenham project. The Park Street pocket park in particular benefitted from a new Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) tree planted in the existing tree pit.
The Pocket Parks have been well received by the local community and were commended by the Cheltenham Civic Society for environmental improvement.
St Paul's Street South before pocket park creation. (Image: Google Streetview)
St Paul's Street South after pocket park creation (Image: Google Streetview)
Park Street before pocket park creation. (Image: Google Streetview)
Park Street after pocket park creation. (Image: Google Streetview)
Step access to the Honeybourne Line
At the very end of the Lower High Street, a new step access to the Honeybourne Line was created in 2019.
Future improvements
The Habitat Cheltenham project looks to make additional planting areas along the Lower High Street in 2020/2021.