Issues and SWOT: Cheltenham

strength

Reuse sites near existing services

Arkle Court replaces a central car park with housing.

Proposed response: Make the walking connections usable as buildings open.

Evidence

strength

Make room for homes people can afford

Average private rent is £1,261 a month (August 2026) in Cheltenham council area. This is £198 lower than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 9.5% in Prestbury to 48.5% in Lansdown — a gap of 38.9 percentage points.

Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.

strength

Bring support closer to people in poor health

4% of people reported bad or very bad health in Cheltenham council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 2.3% in Battledown to 6.2% in St Mark's — a gap of 3.9 percentage points.

This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.

strength

Connect local skills to local opportunities

43.1% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in Cheltenham council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 7.8% in Park to 25.2% in Oakley — a gap of 17.3 percentage points.

Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.

weakness

Match housing offers to different needs

Monkscroft offers social rent and shared ownership; Arkle Court includes discounted purchase.

Proposed response: Explain who can afford and qualify for each route.

Evidence 1 · Evidence 2

opportunity

Improve everyday park access

Elmfield Park paths received neighbourhood funding support.

Proposed response: Check the improvement works for people who walk, wheel or push a buggy.

Evidence

opportunity

Plan homes and care around an older population

19.3% of people in Cheltenham council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 8.2% in St Paul's to 30.2% in Prestbury — a gap of 22 percentage points.

Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.

opportunity

Turn published plans into visible progress

3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.

A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.

opportunity

Target support where disadvantages overlap

Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 6.6% in College to 24.4% in Hesters Way — a gap of 17.8 percentage points.

These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.

threat

Keep home-opening forecasts separate from delivery

Arkle Court’s February update forecast later occupation.

Proposed response: Confirm handovers before counting homes as available.

Evidence