Elevate unveils plans for Edith Walk in Malvern

Elevate Property Group has revealed its designs to bring a derelict site in the centre of Great Malvern back to life with a new development of 17 houses and apartments.

The plans for Edith Walk, drawn up for Elevate by JM Architects of London, also include three commercial units totalling 2,740 sq ft within the development.

The proposals have been submitted to Malvern Hills District Council for approval this month (January) following extensive consultations between Elevate Property Group and council officers on the best solution for the site.

Architect Philip Ives of JM Architects described the Edith Walk location as a “challenging diamond of a site to work on” and said they hoped to do justice to the architectural challenge.

“Malvern Hills District Council has quite rightly set the bar very high on what they consider to be acceptable for such a key site in the centre of Great Malvern.

“Edith Walk is a historic east-west route in the centre of the town. The site is a location that the council is keen to invigorate.

“Council officers have been approachable and supportive in the encouragement of a design solution that activates the north side of Edith Walk above Waitrose and ensures that the access route that links the top of the site by The Foley Arms Hotel links into the carriageway in Edith Walk at the safest and most logical location,” he said.

He added that the three new commercial units facing Edith Walk would help to extend the retail offering and link the route uphill from Waitrose and Church Walk.

The development, if approved, will provide 11 houses offering two, three and four bedrooms, and six 1 and 2 bedroom apartments. The plans include more than one parking space per dwelling.

Elevate Property Group aims to start the project in summer 2020 with practical completion scheduled for Autumn 2021.

Planning consultant Giles Brockbank of Ridge & Partners said: “This is a large, previously developed piece of land in a very central location in Great Malvern. The site has been rather neglected over the past decade and is overgrown with two semi-derelict, uncared for buildings on site.

“Elevate’s redevelopment proposals will also bring activity to the street frontage on Edith Walk, while creating desirable, quality homes just off the High Street and will regenerate this key brownfield site.”

The team behind the Edith Walk proposals was responsible for the redevelopment of Wells House, the Coach Houses and former Chapel in Malvern Wells, and two four-bedroom houses at The Chase on the Worcester Road in Malvern between 2012 and 2014.

The company has also recently completed a highly complex project to bring Alban House back into use in Hereford, a site on High Town which was gutted by fire in 2010.

Elevate Property Group is building a national reputation for the quality of its residential-led schemes. Current high-profile developments throughout the country include Victoria Point (Ashford), Alban House (Hereford), Trent Bridge Quays (Nottingham), Princes Gate (Solihull), Assay Lofts (Birmingham), Sheldon Court (Sheldon, Birmingham) and Cliveland Street (Birmingham).