Landscape framework established for Phase 1 of Cheltenham's Golden Valley development

Following Reserved Matters approval earlier this year, plans for the first phase of Cheltenham's Golden Valley are progressing towards delivery, with a landscape-led framework established for the £1bn development.

Being delivered by HBD, part of Henry Boot, in partnership with Cheltenham Borough Council, the 200-hectare scheme will create a purpose-built cyber and tech innovation campus, where pioneering companies will co-create the future of national security and defence as part of a nationally significant ecosystem.

Landscape architecture practice Grant Associates has led the landscape strategy for the first phase, working as part of the wider consultant team to translate the masterplan into a detailed and deliverable public realm.

Grant Associates’ designs establish a clear landscape framework from the outset — using existing natural assets, movement routes and water systems to structure the development as it evolves and guide future phases as delivery progresses.

A landscape shaped by existing assets

The design is underpinned by four key principles:

• celebrating existing trees and hedgerows
• prioritising walking and cycling
• framing views and legibility
• integrating water management into the landscape

Existing landscape features play a central role in defining the layout. Established hedgerows provide structure and ecological continuity, while mature and veteran oak trees form a strong organising element across the site.

These ‘sentinel’ oaks are carefully integrated into the public realm — retained as focal points and connected visually and physically, while protected through sensitive design and construction approaches.

Movement and connectivity

A network of pedestrian and cycle routes is prioritised throughout, linking into the wider Golden Valley masterplan and connecting key destinations including ROUTER (a mobility hub) and IDEA (a 160,000 sq ft innovation centre), both designed by architect and lead consultant BDP.

A Digital and Ecological Spine forms the primary north–south route, following an existing hedgerow and watercourse along the western boundary. As well as a key movement corridor, it establishes a continuous ecological connection, strengthened through woodland edge planting, meadow habitats and carefully balanced lighting design.

Within this framework, routes expand and contract in response to key landscape moments — including views towards the veteran oaks, where paths widen to create opportunities to pause and engage with the setting.

Spaces for work, movement and pause

Key public spaces are designed to support a range of uses while reinforcing the landscape structure.

The Innovation Courtyard is centred on the veteran oak trees, with lightweight ‘no dig’ construction used to protect root systems. A series of direct and meandering paths, along with informal seating, create a space that supports both movement and informal gathering.

Around IDEA, the Innovation Gardens form a “green wrap” of planting, integrating SuDS features including rain gardens, swales and a detention pond. These are combined with terraces and seating to support outdoor working and social use, while maintaining a strong ecological character.

Water as part of the landscape

Water management is fully integrated into the design through a connected SuDS network that works with the site’s natural topography.

Rain gardens and planted swales capture, attenuate and convey water across the site, creating visually engaging features that support biodiversity and long-term climate resilience.

Claire Hobart, Senior Associate at Grant Associates, said:

“Golden Valley is about using landscape to set the spatial structure for a cyber and tech innovation campus from the outset.

We’ve worked with the site’s existing trees, hedgerows and topography to create a framework that prioritises people, supports biodiversity and integrates water into the public realm.

Phase 1 establishes those fundamentals early — so as the development grows, there is already a strong landscape structure in place that connects everything together.”

Ends

Editors notes

About Grant Associates Grant Associates is a pioneering international landscape architecture practice, whose work reconnects people with nature in insightful, delightful and distinctive ways whilst addressing the global challenges of urbanisation, the climate crisis and biodiversity extinction. Grant Associates’ design process is underpinned by a knowledge of human behaviour, nature and ecological science combined with innovative design technology. The practice combines original thinking, creative collaboration and regenerative design to breathe new life into our cities and landscapes.