Businesses who want to be part of the £1billion Golden Valley development will have to sign a social values charter as part of their lease.

They will also be invited to contribute money to a fund to support skills training, local scholarships, and community improvements.

Civic chiefs said it will ensure the massive cyber park has a "lasting, positive impact on Cheltenham and beyond" and is "not just about the money".

The vision for the 116 acre site is to create a pioneering community, blending more than 1million sq ft of office-led commercial space, which will generate 12,000 jobs, with a garden housing estate featuring more than 1,000 homes.

A big step forward for the project is imminent with developer HBD revealing a detailed planning submission for the first phase is due to be submitted later this year. This week it released new images  of what it could look like.

HBD, part of Henry Boot, and Cheltenham Borough Council will launch a public consultation on plans for the Innovation Centre, Mobility Hub and outdoor spaces next week.

The public will be invited to give their views at three events at Gloucestershire College and Cheltenham Library.

Matt Bellshaw, director and head of region at HBD, said: "We look forward to meeting with the public to discuss our detailed designs for the first phase buildings and hear their thoughts and feedback ahead of detailed planning submission for later this year."

Cllr Peter Jeffries, Cheltenham cabinet lead for major developments and housing delivery, said: "We have now reached a huge milestone in the first phase of Golden Valley and the consultation events offer a great opportunity for residents to meet the development team, including the architects to chat through the proposals in more detail.

"We will have questionnaires to encourage people to share their thoughts about the scheme so that their feedback can feed into the process.''

On Tuesday (March 11) he unveiled details of the new business charter as part of a revised Social Value Strategy for the Golden Valley.

The charter will outline commitments occupiers must follow including:

• Getting involved with local charities and community projects
• Hiring local people
• Committing to sustainable practices
• Ensuring equal opportunities for people from all backgrounds and those with disabilities,
• Supporting employees' mental and physical health
• Offering flexible working options
• Buying from local suppliers and hiring local contractors.
• Offering training, apprenticeships, and mentoring to help develop the local workforce.
• Aligning business practices with long-term social, economic, and environmental goals.
• Tracking and reporting on the social and environmental impacts of business activities.

The revised strategy was drawn up following feedback from the public and other key changes include the addition of the following Social Value Principles, setting out the council's goals for the development.

• Provide life-changing employment and skills opportunities to increase aspiration, opportunity, and accessibility for Cheltenham's residents. Fostering accessibility and ambition.
• Support Cheltenham's and the wider region's economy to thrive and prosper with a focus on innovation. Allows Cheltenham to thrive as a forward-thinking hub of progress.
• Contribute to Cheltenham's rich cultural offering and invest in, and collaborate with, community partners to address key societal challenges. Enriching Cheltenham's vibrant social fabric.
• Deliver exceptional standards of health, safety, and wellbeing. Ensures that the development is a safe and supportive environment for all.
• Protect and enhance Cheltenham's natural environment and biodiversity. Reinforces our role as stewards of the region's biodiversity, ensuring a positive ecological impact and mitigating any challenges from construction.

There are also plans to formally track if the strategy is helping the Golden Valley benefit Cheltenham via a Social Profit Calculator.

Cllr Jeffries said the project had the potential to enact "generational change" for the county.

"The social value that we're going to engineer out of that development for our residents and for our communities across the town is key," he added.

"The finance and return on investment and borrowing rates and loan rates and all that sort of financial aspect will be looked at of course but actually driving social value out of that development to its maximum is key."

Every member of the cabinet praised Cllr Jeffries for the work that had gone into the revised strategy.

Cllr Alisha Lewis (LB, Oakley) said: " We're making this enormous investment and the thing that really matters is ensuring that every penny is doing the most that it can, particularly for our town and the people in it."

Cabinet endorsed the revised strategy and it will now be formally incorporated into the Development Agreement with HBD.

Public consultations for phase one of the Golden Valley will be held by HBD on:

• March 21, 11.30am-1.30pm - Cheltenham Library
• March 21, 5.30pm - 7.30pm - Gloucestershire College
• March 22, 10am-12pm - Gloucestershire College

Alternatively, those unable to attend can visit www.goldenvalleyuk.com/2025consultation or get in touch with HBD via 01143 504 477 or goldenvalley@hbd.co.uk