OFFICIAL GLOUCESTER REGENERATION
Gloucester is a prosperous and exciting city located near the Welsh border on the banks of the River Severn. It has a long and detailed history dating back to the Roman times and was an important industrial hub for much of this time. Following changes in industry, the city saw a large decline during the last half of the 20th century.
Following large scale investment and promotion of the city, it now boasts impressive architecture, innovative industry and an improving retail scene.
Below is a summary of the latest projects and details of completed work.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Gloucester Quays
Gloucester Quays has been a massive £400million investment into Gloucester by the Peel Investment Group. The first phases are completed, being a designer outlet centre, Travelodge Hotel, Sainsburys Supermarket and new college site for GLOSCAT.
The latest phase is a £40million plan to build a 10screen Cineworld cinema above 10 bar/retaurant units in the area between the canal and the outlet centre. Nandos and Pizza Express are already tenents of this area. Restaurants believed to be interested include Carluccios and Wagamamas.
Gloucester Docks
Work is completed on a multi-million pound plan to convert the former antique centre into high end apartments. Another apartment block has been completed with the architecture designed to sympathetically fit in with the local surroundings and historic Gloucester Docks.
Ecclasiastical Insurance and due to imminently start work on their new Headquarters building on the current Southgate Street surface car park. The last news was that the company had committed themselves to site and appointed architects to draw up the plans.
St Oswalds Park Final Phases
Residential phases continue by Charles Church/Persimmon and there are new apartment blocks being constructed alongside the retirement centre and behind the B&Q store.
Kingsway
Many thousands of houses are being build on the western fringe of Gloucester by a consortium of 8 house builders. There will be 3-400 houses plus a new neighbourhood centre, parks, 2 schools and shops once complete. Neighbourhoods 2&3 have recently been launched, and construction of the new school has begun. The retail provision so far includes Tesco Express, Badhams Pharmacy and a pub. A large Asda has been confirmed for the area just off the A38 with work due to start soon.
Railway Triangle
Work has now started to clear the site and lay down services to the railway riangle site. This will become home to a large new Morrisons store and petrol station alongwith light industrial units, small retail stores and restaurants.
PROPOSED
Greyfriars
Estimated at £60million, it occupies the site formerly held by Gloscat on Brunswick Road. The old teaching blocks will be demolished, and a new sustainable neighbourhood built, including new retail, offices and restaurants plus a new public square. The recession has impacted on this development, having been delayed and Edward Ware homes being dropped as preffered developer. Construction is due to start in March/April 2010 following a 1 year public consultation (very favourable as well). The new developer Linden Homes will construct abotu 400 units with £60 million estimated investment in the area.
Bakers Quay
No recent news and the site has been put on the market.
Kings Quarter
The plans here include the demolition of the Bus station and carparks, and to extend the Kings Walk Shopping mall. The contruction of a new flagship department store is proposed. Kings Square would also be totally redeveloped, and the bus station would move to the car park of Land Registry (opposite the train station). Kings Square itself would be filled with new retail stores and the square moved north to sit where the current bus station and taxi ranks are- better linking the station to the city centre. Stanhope Plc are behind the plans and have a succesful legacy at delivering high quality retail driven regeneration- most notably in Exeter. The project will be worth an estimated £80-100million.
OTHER PROJECTS
Contract Chemicals Site, Bristol Road
a masterplan for this former factory site is currently being drawn up, but looks likely to be mixed use including offices, housing and light industry, and is estimated to be worth £30million.
COMPLETED
Gloucester Quays Phases 1-3
The Gloucester Quays Designer Outlet Centre has been completed and opened with great success. There are currently 60 stores let and many more due to be announced shortly. Stores such as Nike, Calvin Klein, The White Company, Gap are all making first appearances in Gloucester and often the county.
Also included in the project was a new Sainsburys Superstore, bringing with it 200 jobs.
A new iconic Bridge finally connecting St Anns way to Hempsted
Finally, a new campus for Gloucestershire opened in Phase1 of the project. Being hailed as a major success and setting the ball rolling for the wider Quays development
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Completed a couple of years ago, this redevelopment provided Gloucester with premier health facitilies including new childrens wards, X-ray, orthopaedics, A&E, wards and new parking. The project cost ~£30million.
Ibis Hotel
Due to be build on the Eastern Avenue roundabout behind the Total Petrol Station, this large Ibis hotel brings much needed hotel space to the city.
St Oswolds Park Phases 1&2
On the site which was formerly the Gloucester Cattle Market, this landmark development has seen the biggest B&Q store in the western world, plus a DW Fitness, Mothercare, Argos, SCS, Frankie and Benny's, Subway, Dominoes, Natwest, Homesense and Harvester.
The project is valued at £100million and was a joint venture between Hammerson Developments and Gloucester City Council.
Gloucester Docks
Crest Nicholson have spent £10's millions on regenerating Gloucester Docks and restoring them to their former glory. They have also build two new blocks around Barge Arm, containing shops and restaurants in the bottom.
Gloucester Rugby Club
The club has undergone a large scale expansion project, seeing the second new stand contructed in 3 years. The capacity of the club is being increased to 17000 from 6000. The stand is estimated at £6million.
Gloucester Northern Bypass
Gloucester welcomed the opening of a new £43million bypass, opening up the western waterfront of the city and the Monk Meadow portion of gloucester quays for development. The bypass has significantly improved traffic congestion down Bristol Road.
Here are the projects in relation to the city centre:
As you can see, Gloucester is indeed undergoing a rebirth, so please comment, discuss, add pictures and renders...Gloucester is worth talking about!