Images of Regent Arcade’s proposed makeover have been revealed.

They show how the Cheltenham shopping centre’s “eyesore” rooftop would be transformed into a glass-fronted restaurant and leisure space with a terrace overlooking the town centre.

Proposals to revamp the 19,500 sqm arcade have been ongoing  since 2018 in an effort to help it compete with the likes of Cribb's Causeway and Cabot Circus.

They have taken another step forward after a revised planning application for the roof was submitted to Cheltenham Borough Council.

It has been prepared by Bell Associates on behalf of The Regent Arcade Trust and builds on an already approved planning application, with changes to the design and staircase access.

The applicant states the proposal brings “a vacant area which is in a state of disrepair into use.”

It adds: “As a consequence of the changes to retailing, it is imperative that measures are taken to create an enjoyable shopping experience coupled with a mixture of retailers, restaurants, eateries and leisure activities to continue to encourage customers to view Regent Arcade and Cheltenham Town centre as a destination of choice.”

If given the green light, the existing rooftop greenhouse would be demolished along with the car park staircase and lobby to make way for a two storey restaurant building. It would add 354.6sqm floor space to the mall.

A tenant has not been secured but the proposed opening hours of the restaurant would be Monday to Saturday 10am to 11.30pm and Sunday 10am to 11pm.

The proposals state The Regent Arcade Trust intends to invest “significant funds” to redevelop the greenhouse which was originally designed as a retail garden centre but has never been occupied.“

The proposal is part of bigger plans to makeover Regent Arcade which have partly stalled following the Covid-19 lockdowns.

A planning application was approved in October 2018 to transform the former BHS unit into three restaurants and a retail unit on the ground floor, a basement leisure unit and two storey rooftop restaurant with a new street level entrance from Regent Street. 

Some work has gone ahead with TIVOLI Cinema opening in the basement in September 2021 and retailers such as Tiger, Smiggle, Sharps, HMV, Pandora, Sketchers and Yankee Candle have opened in the arcade.

But “economic challenges” have made it hard to find tenants for the new units and the ground floor was reverted back to retail use to allow Decathlon to move in .

However, the Trust is hopefully a tenant could be secured for the lofty restaurant space - which would join The Nook at Five  which opened on the roof of The Quadrangle last year.

The applicant states: “The past few years have seen a fundamental and structural change to shopping practices. 

“Surveys indicate people are reducing retail spending on the high street and instead increasing spending on independent eateries and leisure activities.”

It said the proposal creates a new exciting leisure destination in a unique location which will contribute and expand the day and night time economy along Regent Street.

The application also seeks to create a 13 person lift from ground to roof level and new staircase, with remodelling of existing emergency exits with automatic sliding doors and remedial works to the external pavement.

The application 23/00325/FUL can be viewed in full via the Cheltenham Borough Council website.