Cheltenham Council's Grand Designs: Luxury Projects Proceed Amidst Housing Crisis
The Cheltenham Borough Council, led and dominated by the Liberal Democrats, faces growing scrutiny over its commitment to high-profile developments like the proposed Municipal Offices hotel conversion and the Cyber Park, while many residents grapple with an escalating housing affordability crisis and fears of eviction.
Plans to transform the Grade II* listed Municipal Offices into a 125-bed luxury spa hotel, driven by Almiranta Capital Ltd, are touted by the council as boosting the town's cultural and economic standing. However, the secrecy surrounding the bidding process – including undisclosed competing proposals – fuels concerns over transparency. Almiranta Capital's listing as a "management consultancy" (SIC 70229) further raises legitimate questions about its financial capacity and the ultimate backers of this multi-million pound scheme.
This focus on prestige projects strikes many as starkly misaligned with the urgent realities facing Cheltenham's citizens. With roughly 35% of borough households renting privately, and tenants typically spending an estimated 40% of their income on rent, issues of housing security and affordability demand immediate attention – yet seem conspicuously absent from the council's forefront priorities. Critics argue the authority is fixated on a nebulous future vision, prioritising "grandiose vanity projects" offering scant tangible benefit to current residents struggling today.
The Cyber Park development exemplifies this perceived misdirection of public funds. Labelled by detractors as "ego-driven," it reportedly costs the council £2 million annually, with an estimated £40 million already spent. This significant expenditure, intended to create a "legacy," directly constrains the council's ability to fund vital social programmes addressing the acute housing insecurity experienced by many.
Concerns deepen when examining political funding. Register of Members' Interests disclosures reveal Cheltenham's Liberal Democrat MP, Max Wilkinson, received substantial donations from property and real estate management interests, including:
- £10,000 cash from DPK Real Estate Services Ltd.
- An in-kind gift from DPK Management Ltd (real estate management).
- £2,500 cash from Adam Management Holdings Ltd (management consultancy).
- £10,000 cash from Mavuno Ltd (a dissolved real estate management company).
- £5,000 cash from Julian Dunkerton (local entrepreneur with significant hospitality/property interests).
These donations to the MP of the locally dominant party inevitably raise questions about potential influence on council policy and resource allocation. There is a perception that commercial donor interests may be prioritised over the socio-economic welfare of the wider community.
As due diligence on the Municipal Offices sale continues, the demand for transparency grows louder. Cheltenham residents deserve a comprehensive public account of the financial implications of these large-scale projects, a clear comparison of all bids received, and unequivocal evidence demonstrating how these ventures will foster a genuinely more equitable and affordable town for all.
Call to Action: Cheltenham Tenant Union
This isn't just about observing – it's about organising. The Cheltenham Tenant Union is building the collective strength needed to demand housing justice and hold power to account. We need you to help us grow:
- SIGN UP: Get regular updates on our progress and growing local impact. You can fun our work to build our strength in numbers by becoming a paid subscriber.
- BUILD OUR NUMBERS: Strength lies in unity. Encourage fellow tenants to join the Union. Share articles and surveys on social media,
- PRINT & DISTRIBUTE: Help spread the word. We need to grow beyond the internet. That means printing and delivering leaflets direct to tenants.
- SUPPORT OUR WORK: Our power and influence depends on coming together to act together. The more we are the more we can get done. Help pay for the 20000 leaflets need to reach every rented household in Cheltenham.
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Cheltenham Council prioritises luxury hotels & cyber parks while our housing crisis deepens. Join the Tenant Union to fight for affordable, secure homes for all! #CheltenhamHousing #TenantPower #CTU www.cheltenham-tenant-union.com
Together, we can ensure Cheltenham works for its residents, not just its grandest projects.
