£1bn West Country regeneration scheme launched

A major new area regeneration framework for the city of Gloucester was launched today. Masterplanning firm Terence O'Rourke led a team of consultants that includes QS James Nisbet & Partners and property consultancy King Sturge to develop the framework for Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company (GHURC), who will manage the 10-year, £1bn investment programme.

The proposals are set to deliver an estimated 2,000 new jobs and bring life back to the special character of areas of the city's historic core. The aim is to develop an attractive, safe, sustainable and prosperous urban centre that takes Gloucester forwards into the 21st century.

GHURC will provide: new office, retail and leisure space, including significant space for hotels and catering; new education and community facilities; and 3-4,000 new houses and apartments. Areas for delivering this include Kings Square, Blackfriars and the Westgate Quay area, Greyfriars and the Gloscat college campus, Gloucester Docks and Quays, the railway triangle and the canal corridor. The commercial and historic role of The Cross and Gate Street will be strengthened, with a high quality public space at Kings Square and more active uses brought into Blackfriars Priory.

Bringing areas of brownfield land into reuse is a core target, GHURC said. A statement said: "Brownfield redevelopment is also critical in addressing wider social and economic problems. Six of GHURC's areas are within the top 25% of the most deprived in England, while three are within the 10% most deprived. Crime, unemployment, health and environmental issues must be addressed by the regeneration. A clear focus on previously developed land along the canal corridor, railway triangle and St Oswald's Park will contribute significantly towards the target of reclaiming 100 hectares of brownfield land."