Massive 200-hectare cyber campus planned near GCHQ

The Golden Valley Development in Gloucestershire is moving to its next stage as the cyber business park selects HBD X Factory as its development partner.

The £1 billion scheme will include UK Cyber Central and its Innovation Zone, which will enable cutting-edge start-ups to grow as part of one of the largest cyber focused developments in the world today.

In 2019, Cheltenham Borough Council spent £37.5m on 45 hectares of land close to GCHQ, with the aim of building up the area’s expertise in cyber technology. It’s expected that up to 12,000 new jobs, 3,700 homes and 2 million square feet of commercial space will be created from this project.

The UK’s Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Matt Warman, supports this initiative and believes it has the potential to boost the standing of the UK cyber industry. “Cheltenham is an engine of growth for the UK’s cybersecurity sector and the Golden Valley development will play a major role cementing the country’s place as a global leader in the field,” says Warman.

“We are investing to help cybersecurity businesses across the country tackle barriers to growth and boost people’s digital skills so we can usher in a golden age in UK tech,” he adds. Cheltenham has already established itself as a region that has a lot to offer to cyber start-ups. When open, the Golden Valley Development will join co-working spaces like Hub8 and cyber firms like Bamboo Technology Group and Ripjar.

According to Councillor Rowena Hay, Leader of Cheltenham Borough Council, the method of selecting HBD X Factory as the preferred partner for the project was a “thorough, detailed procurement and evaluation process” and HBD X Factory “demonstrated they have the experience and ability to deliver the Council’s objectives and aspirations”.