Cheltenham Borough Council planning committee unanimously approved plans on February 19, 2026, to build 70 affordable and energy-efficient homes in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, to help address a local housing shortage.
The new houses will be built on the site of the former Monkscroft Primary School in the Hester’s Way area, which has been empty since the school was knocked down in 2009. The development will offer a mix of social rent and shared ownership properties ranging from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom family houses.
According to Cheltenham Borough Council, there were 2,623 households on the local housing register waiting for affordable homes as of January 2025. All of the new properties will be built to high energy standards to ensure low carbon emissions and help residents with the cost of heating their homes.
The project includes an eco-friendly landscape with a green promenade, a community growing area, and a central green space for recreation. To manage traffic flow, access to the new homes will be provided through Shelley Road and Shakespeare Road, with construction expected to begin in the coming months.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
