Discussions about plans to redevelop Cheltenham's Cavendish House continue to progress, its owner says, one year after the iconic department store temporarily closed its doors.
Building owner Canada Life Asset Management has told Carmelo Garcia, local democracy reporter, that conversations with parties including Cheltenham Borough Council about its proposals for the site have been 'productive', with the firm set to engage with wider local stakeholders 'in due course'.
It comes with the Cheltenham Civic Society criticising the lack of progress made over the building redevelopment this April 2025.
The society claims it was told pre-application talks between Canada Life and the council were taking place in spring 2024; and that wider consultation would follow soon after.
It's now been more than a year since House of Fraser vacated the store on Cheltenham Promenade, leading to the temporary closure of the historic building, which has been a focal point of the town's shopping district since it opened in 1823.
The building reopened six weeks later, with a private investor taking on a short term lease and inviting a variety of businesses to open pop-up shops there for one year.
The Cheltenham Civic Society previously presented its own conceptual plan to the public for a mixed use development at the site — including an area of open space and a pedestrian link with Regent Street — which it says gained an 85.5 per cent support rate and received no negative comments.
A spokesperson for Canada Life Asset Management said: 'Canada Life is a long-standing and active investor in Cheltenham, as demonstrated by over 20 years of ownership of Regent Arcade Shopping Centre which has seen continual investment to enhance the town centre’s retail and leisure offering.
'We remain committed to bringing forward proposals for the Cavendish House site and continue to have productive conversations with parties including Cheltenham Borough Council.
'We will seek to engage with wider local stakeholders in due course.'
