New transport hub opens in Cheltenham

Architects and engineers at global, multidisciplinary design practice BDP have delivered Phase 2 of the project alongside contractor Kier Construction on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council.  The £33m scheme is a key milestone in the county council’s ongoing efforts to deliver sustainable transport options in the county. It is an important element of the current Gloucestershire Local Transport Plan 2020-2041 and its Climate Change Strategy. It has been funded by the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), administered by Homes England, and the county council.

Arle Court Transport Hub will transform the travel experience for residents and visitors within, to and from the west Cheltenham area, as well as those arriving from the M5 via long-distance coach travel, by providing enhanced park and ride facilities that are both convenient and comfortable. The scheme has also been designed to offer improved sustainable travel choices and better connectivity to local active travel, which in turn will reduce congestion, lower CO2 emissions and improve air quality in the region.

The new hub provides an expanded bus terminal to enable reliable bus services linking Gloucester and Cheltenham hospitals and centres, making public transport a more convenient option for those using the enhanced park and ride facility. It also offers a range of new and improved passenger and active travel facilities, including indoor and outdoor waiting areas, real-time information screens, a customer information desk, toilets, secure cycle lockers, cycle hoops, cycle maintenance tools and shower changing facilities.

The entire site will provide almost 1,000 parking spaces.This includes 860 spaces in the new multi-storey car park. The transport hub is also home to the largest contactless payment EV charging public transport hub in the UK, with 100 x 7kW EV commissioned charge points installed in partnership with Connected Kerb, with a future potential capacity of up to 266.

BDP’s approach has focused on the passenger journey and has delivered a design that creates seamless connections between travel options and a comfortable passenger experience. The design was developed to reduce the embodied carbon of the building by 20%, with facilities that are net zero carbon in operation, thanks to the installation of solar PV panels which aim to offset the energy requirements as demand for electric car charging expands. 

This landmark new building features a striking bronze, aluminium façade with ‘twists’ within the design to create a wave effect across its length. The hub is surrounded by landscaped green areas including new trees and planting to boost biodiversity.

Matt Mayes, architect director at BDP, said: “Arle Court Transport Hub provides the infrastructure and facilities needed to bring together many sustainable transport options and significantly improve customer experience.  The idea behind the project is that local people have the opportunity to use sustainable travel methods, such as cycling, scooting or walking, to travel in and out of Cheltenham with excellent travel connections to help them reach their final destination. This approach supports the 15 minute city concept which aims to provide choice and improve people’s quality of life.”

Councillor David Gray, cabinet member for environment and planning at Gloucestershire County Council said: "The completion of Phase 2 of Arle Court Transport Hub is a significant milestone in our mission to provide the necessary infrastructure to facilitate sustainable travel in Gloucestershire. The new facilities will not only make public transport and sustainable travel options more accessible, but also play a crucial role in reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality in Cheltenham and Gloucester.”

The third and final phase of the project began in late July 2024 and is due to be completed by November 2024. This phase will add more surface car parking spaces to the existing west car park, dedicated coach and camper/van parking and further enhance the transport hub’s sustainability features including the installation of four rapid EV chargepoints.