Ambitions to transform Gloucester's waterfront in two
separate schemes have taken big steps forward.
Permission is being sought to demolish three key buildings
as part of regeneration plans by Gloucestershire County Council for Blackfriars
and the quayside area of the city.
A planning application has gone in to demolish the former
County Garage, the Ship Inn and the Quay Print buildings in Quay Street.
It is the latest stage in a master plan for the site, which
has proposals for 500 homes, including student accommodation, a new civic
centre, magistrates' and crown court.
It hopes to improve traffic flow to and from the city centre
as well as pedestrian links from Gloucester Cathedral to the Quays waterfront.
Work is due to start in April 2016.
Councillor Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council,
said the regeneration of Gloucester Docks, Blackfriars and Quayside area is a
major priority for the city.
"Blackfriars and Quayside is a significant and historic
area, linking the Docks, the Cathedral and the River Severn.
"Its regeneration, bringing more people to live and
work in the city centre and attracting more visitors, will be a huge boost for
the local economy."
He added: "We have received a planning application from
the developers for the Bakers Quay area, which contains artist impressions of
how the area may look. However, these were produced before the fire at
Provender Mill."
In other news, business consortium Rokeby Merchant
Developments has submitted more detailed plans and images of what it hopes to
create in a multi-million pound redevelopment of the neglected Bakers Quay.
These stunning designs show how the plans for 155 flats and
a range of bars and restaurants will look if planning officials approve the
planning application, due to be decided on in January.
As part of their ambitious plans , the firm wants to build a
drive through Costa Coffee as well as a 105-bedroom Premier Inn.
They signed contracts last year with the landowners to buy
the site, as long as they get permission.
This was put into doubt when the principal building in the
plans, the rundown Provender Warehouse, was set alight in an alleged arson
attack in September.
Investigations continue to find out if the listed building
can be saved but its demolition is thought likely.
Adrian Goodall, managing director of firm Rokeby
Developments, said the prognosis for the warehouse was "not good"
after parts of the building were warped by temperatures of 1,100C.
"It's terribly sad because the whole attraction has
been the heritage nature of the development but we are still looking at all the
options," he said.
"Overall, this is a very challenging site but hopefully
the reward will be this development envisioned by these images.
"It's a very exciting opportunity with the news of Next
coming to the Peel Centre next door. It's going to create a large attraction
focus for Gloucester."
Source: Gloucester citizen.
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