A modern-looking home could be built in the rear car park of what used to be county council offices. An application has been made to construct a private dwelling at the rear of Sandford Park House in London Road, Cheltenham.
The main house used to be offices for social services for 25 years but planning permission has been granted to create eight apartments there. Iwas built in the early 19th Century and was originally two semi-detached homes before being turned into the offices.
The redevelopment of the rear car park was originally part of plans, but was left out of the later approval. Now, there are moves to create a high quality private home in what was the car park for the council workers.
A planning application has been submitted to Cheltenham Borough Council. You can view and comment on it here.
A design and access statement from Coombes Everitt Architects Limited says: “The site has a number of listed buildings in its locality, the principle one being Sandford Park House to the London Road frontage. The site is also in the Conservation Area.
Proposals for the new home
(Image: From planning application)
“Although Sandford Park House is a large 4 storey dwelling the adjacent properties along Keynshambury Road are generally smaller more traditional mews type dwellings and set the mixed and open context for the development and the Conservation Area. It is however acknowledged that the existing site does not add to the locality and detracts from the setting of Sandford Park House and this provides opportunities for its redevelopment with a high quality dwelling.”
It adds: “The current application builds on the success of the conversion scheme and the opportunity to provide an additional residential unit on an under utilised back land site. This is based on the principles of scale and massing established as part of the original 2019 application but has changed the proposed use to a single dwelling rather than the 3 original mews cottages which were suggested.
“This builds on the improvements to the setting of the listed building and conservation area agreed andbuilt out as part of the conversion scheme. The quality of this will be continued as part of the current proposals.”
The rear of Sandford Park House
(Image: Google)
It adds: “The proposed scheme is accessed from Keynshambury Road to maintain the current vehicular and pedestrian access points and allow the boundary hedge and wall to be replaced with a new facing brickwork wall to reflect the earlier conversion scheme. This will then allow the site to have brick walls to all sides provided in either existing brickwork or in a matching brick in English garden wall bond.
“This provides access to a private courtyard with vehicle turning and parking for 2 cars in a separate garage. The front entrance of the dwelling is then accessed from this court with the front door protected by the overhanging first floor.
Large private gardens then wrap the house and provide south and west facing amenity space. This will be hard landscaped with permeable block paving and terraces and soft landscape laid to lawns. The existing tree will be protected and retained and supplemental planting provided to Keynshambury Road and a pleached tree hedge to the rear boundary to soften the boundary and provide enhanced privacy screening.”
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