The Golden Valley project is a mixed-use development located in Gloucestershire, UK, being developed by Henry Boot Developments (HBD), a subsidiary of Henry Boot, in collaboration with Cheltenham Borough Council.
Spanning an area of 200 hectares, the project aims to deliver approximately 2,500 residential units alongside 1.25 million ft² of commercial space, with the new National Cyber Innovation Centre positioned as a central feature.
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With an estimated investment of £1bn ($1.36bn), the development is poised to enhance the UK’s capabilities in sectors such as cybersecurity, AI, quantum technologies and secure communications. It is expected to create 12,000 job opportunities.
In July 2025, planning consent was granted for the initial phase of the Golden Valley project, with construction set to commence in spring 2026.
The overall completion of the Golden Valley project is expected by 2035.
Location
The Golden Valley project is strategically situated adjacent to GCHQ, the UK’s intelligence, security and cyber agency.
The site benefits from strong transport connectivity, being in proximity to the M5 motorway, Gloucester Airport and Cheltenham Spa railway station, which serves as a mainline connection between Bristol and Birmingham.
Golden Valley Development masterplan
The Golden Valley project encompasses the construction of three primary commercial buildings: IDEA, I/O Buildings (INPUT and OUTPUT), and ROUTER, alongside a range of residential units.
The first phase of the development will feature one million ft² of premium commercial space, which includes the IDEA building and the 160,000ft² National Cyber Innovation Centre, as outlined in the government’s modern industrial strategy.
This phase will provide 576 residential units across various tenures, addressing the housing requirements in the city of Cheltenham.
The IDEA and ROUTER buildings are anticipated to be completed by autumn 2027, while the I/O Buildings are projected to open in 2029.
Commercial buildings development details
The IDEA building within the Golden Valley project is designed as a collaborative space that brings together government, business, academia, start-ups and the wider community.
It is intended to be flexible and adaptable, featuring areas for informal collaboration, events, networking and communal interactions.
The facility will house a dedicated skills hub alongside spaces for government operations and small to medium-sized enterprises in technology and future-focused sectors, all within a sustainable environment aiming for a 5.5-star NABERS rating.
The design of IDEA incorporates elements from the surrounding landscape, integrating nature into the building’s architecture.
The INPUT building is tailored to accommodate a range of businesses, from high-potential start-ups to established industry leaders. It offers flexible, scaleable floor plates and a layout that fosters interaction among tenants.
The OUTPUT building is designed as a collaborative space for industry pioneers, facilitating the advancement of technology. It provides immediate access to IDEA and its associated benefits, located within 500m of GCHQ’s headquarters.
The prime location is complemented by transport links, enhanced by connectivity through the ROUTER building, which functions as a modal hub, leveraging smart technology to promote sustainable movement within the Golden Valley community.
The two-storey facility includes high-amenity features on the ground floor designed to accommodate vehicles while encouraging active travel.
It offers secure cycle parking, e-bike charging stations, showers, lockers, real-time bus information and a car club.
The upper floors of ROUTER will provide flexible office space alongside curated retail, food and drink amenities.
Details of residential units
The residential component of the Golden Valley project is designed to integrate with the IDEA, ROUTER, INPUT and OUTPUT buildings.
The homes are strategically positioned within the landscape to foster connections among residents and avoid segregation.
The project plans to deliver more than 1,000 low-carbon homes, featuring a diverse range of types, sizes and tenures to accommodate the varying needs of future residents.
Financing
In June 2024, Cheltenham Borough Council entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to secure £20m ($27.3m) in funding that has been provisionally allocated to the Golden Valley Development.
This funding is part of the third round of the department’s Levelling Up Fund, aimed at supporting projects that contribute to local growth and development.
The financial support is intended to facilitate the advancement of the Golden Valley project, aligning with broader objectives to enhance economic opportunities in the region.
Sustainable features of Golden Valley development
The design strategy for the Golden Valley project is based on the natural physical systems present on the site. Throughout the masterplan development process, emphasis is placed on preserving and enhancing existing waterways, landscape habitats, ecology, biodiversity and soil quality.
The masterplan outlines the creation of a diverse array of native landscape habitats, alongside the establishment of sustainable transport and movement infrastructure. It also envisions low-carbon mixed-use neighbourhoods that exhibit distinct characteristics.
The local authority has integrated various targets into a sustainability strategy for the development, which includes requirements for achieving Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Excellent ratings for buildings and meeting Royal Institute of British Architects’ climate challenge targets.
Contractors involved
Grimshaw Architects has been appointed as the masterplan architect for the Golden Valley development.
HBD appointed Sheppard Robson in June 2024 to lead the design for the second phase. Sheppard Robson will work alongside BDP, which is progressing with designs for the Innovation Centre and Mobility Hub, integral to the initial development phase.
In September 2025, HBD selected Bowmer + Kirkland to deliver the first phase of the project, which includes enabling works for future phases.
Buro Happold has been selected to provide specialist support across the masterplan, Innovation Centre, and Mobility Hub, covering areas such as geotechnical and structural engineering, acoustics and sustainability.
Additional partners are Arcadis as project managers, RBA as quantity surveyors and HGH as planning consultants.