Gloucester is set to have one of the largest digital quarters in the UK as more details of the £85m Kings Quarter project – announced at the weekend as The Forum – were revealed.
The Forum will create a vibrant new social and digital campus for the South West, and act as a catalyst for an emerging digital and cyber security sector.
Developed by Reef Group, in partnership with Gloucester City Council, it was launched during part of Saturday’s Gloucester Day at an event attended by the MP for Gloucester Richard Graham, Gloucester City Council leader Cllr Richard Cook and other stakeholders.
More than 125,000 sq ft of new versatile office space will be developed, alongside a shared workspace club and an innovation hub designed for emerging cyber businesses and incubator businesses.
This will sit alongside a 116-bedroom four-star hotel, a 9,000 sq ft gym, restaurants, shops, bars and cathedral view apartments.
As part of the 600,000 sq ft masterplan for The Forum, there will be a multi-storey car park, alongside over one acre of public realm and landscaping work.
Building on Gloucester’s history of innovation, The Forum will create a new mixed-use urban environment set to attract major occupiers and the region’s best talent.
Councillor Richard Cook, Leader of Gloucester City Council said: “Not only will we have a large-scale digital campus which will attract significant investors to the city, but a superb newly regenerated area of the city for residents and visitors.”
Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester said: “It is wonderful to launch The Forum on Gloucester Day. This development is aimed at attracting digital companies with an international reach to the heart of Gloucester – next to the Transport Hub and soon to be improved Railway Station. This is one of Gloucester’s key projects and its success will help transform our City Centre.”
Esther Croft, Development Director at Reef Group added: “This is set to create one of the UK’s first truly integrated digital societies and will provide the space and the infrastructure to build a seamless link between city centre living and working, in a new social and digital hub. We will shortly be putting forward more detailed plans and holding a public consultation for people to take a closer look.”
As part of the revitalisation of the city centre, work has already begun on transformation of Kings Square, which is supported with £5m in investment from Gloucester City Council. This will ultimately create a new destination for regular cultural activities including live performances.
