SUPERDRY founder Julian Dunkerton wants the people of Cheltenham to have their say on which of his two plans for 131 the Promenade they prefer.
Mr Dunkerton has submitted plans to Cheltenham Borough Council for a permanent terrace to replace the temporary marquees outside the iconic town centre hospitality venue.
The new terrace structure will offer two design options: a glass structure with decorative ironwork, in keeping with many regency buildings around Cheltenham including No 131 itself, or a slim, unobtrusive metal pergola with a retractable roof.
Both options complement the Regency architecture, designed with award-winning local architects and heritage experts.
No 131 say they have also engaged with Cheltenham Borough Council, and separately, with Historic England, through the pre-application process.
The submissions will be supported by an assessment of the heritage impact; all to ensure the integrity of the proposal, both in terms of conservation and design.
The proposed terrace will enhance the iconic appeal of No 131 and cement its status as a top UK hospitality venue.
Mr Dunkerton said it was never his intention to keep the plastic marquees at 131.
He submitted plans to keep them temporarily while more permanent plans were drawn up for the site.
These were refused and planning enforcement is underway to have the temporary structures removed.
The marquees were installed outside the hotel and restaurant while planning enforcement against moveable structures was relaxed during the Covid-19 pandemic to allow bars and restaurants to use external spaces and meet social distancing requirements.
Their controversial presence has proven to be a talking point in the spa town, but Mr Dunkerton said they saved the business.
However, it was never his intention to keep them forever.
“It’s not about the marquees,” he siad. “It’s about the terraces.
“It’s about the outside eating. Maybe the public is out of kilter with what I’m trying to do here because I never intended to keep the marquees.
“And I think there’s a feeling out there like ‘oh he’s trying to keep the marquees’.
“I’m not. I never [wanted to do that]
“It’s just the planning process takes forever to get to the right place to put in a proposal and have it accepted.
"What I would love is the public to look at the two planning applications and say which one they prefer.
“The first one is the expensive one. [It includes] metal work, which is paying homage to Cheltenham.
“And the second one is as light touch as you can get. But both options do the fundamental.
“The complaint was people can’t see the buildings through the marquees. I’ve taken that away with both options, so both options are [addressing those concerns].
“For me, it’s a choice between two positives.
"It would save the jobs, lead to more investment into the town and make Cheltenham really special.
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