Construction is getting ready to roll on a business incubator hub in Cheltenham.

Warners Trust PLC is going to transform the former car dealership in Blaisdon Way into 12 units aimed at fledgling firms.

It was given approval for the masterplan back in July 2021 and three years later is now preparing to break ground.

Last week Cheltenham Borough Council signed off numerous conditions of the approval including the construction management plan, the materials, waste management and landscaping.

The brownfield site was formerly home to Warners Group car storage compound.

The 5,698sqm site is mainly hard-surfaced and the applicant said it is ideally suited to commercial redevelopment.

A neighbouring building, used as a showroom and dealership office, was transformed into a gym in 2019 and is not part of the current plans.

The 12 units will be built in three blocks and could be used by a wide variety of businesses.

The application states: "Although it is not possible to confirm exactly the mix of uses at this point the units are for small business start ups and by definition this means that the uses are fairly generic and could include general industrial, storage or distribution or retail with visiting members of the public but critically without detriment to the amenity of any residential area by reason of noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust or grit.

"These use constraints limit the potential for impact upon local residential areas and the nature of the likely incubation businesses (storage, retail or light industrial) are not anticipated to generate excess waste."

Each unit will have a dedicated bin storage and the site will be operated through a managing agent with commercial waste and recycling contracted on an estate wide basis in order to minimise vehicle movements

"In order to achieve harmonious occupational practices, any tenant unable to adhere to these estate-wide ethical practices such as waste minimisation will not be granted occupation," states the application.

The site design had to overcome two "major constraints on development" - an electricity distribution pylon situated towards the north-eastern boundary with the overhead cables restricting the height of buildings and a water main crossing the land which has a 15m easement to be kept clear of permanent structures.

Construction will require the use of heavyweight construction machinery including a telehandler, piling rig, deliveries lorries, forklifts, excavators, cranes and articulated vehicles and equipment such as scaffolding and floodlighting.

Measures to control the amount of dirt, dust and noise produced will be used.

The building work will take place Monday - Friday 7.30am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 7.30am to 1pm.

A statement by Coombes Everitt Architects on behalf of Warners Trust plc said: "The proposal has been developed in accordance with our client's aspirations to create a high quality,

development of new commercial units, utilising an existing brown field site to provide for continued and future business development in the locality.

"We have sought to develop a proposal that provides a good quality development while fully taking account of the restrictions relating to the site."