City development on track as first tenant confirmed

The project's design was inspired by the cloisters at the nearby cathedral

The first business to move into a huge city centre development has been confirmed.

Fasthosts, one of Gloucester’s biggest employers, is moving 180 of its staff to The Forum in December.

The £107m development, which includes offices, retail space, restaurants and the city’s only four-star hotel, is nearing completion.

“We will have people working in the spaces by the end of this year, and a hotel and car park that is operational early next year,” said Peter Langly-Smith, Managing Director of developer Reef Group.

Rupert Beddell, CEO of Fasthosts, said he is "very excited" to move into the building

The Forum, part of the wider £200m pound regeneration of the city centre, is aimed at attracting cyber firms and bringing up to 1,500 jobs to the city.

Developers said work on the project is making “fantastic progress” with more than 70 per cent of office floorspace already taken.

“It’s the first time we’ve been able to bring all our employees under one roof in the heart of Gloucester,” said Rupert Beddell, CEO of Fasthosts, an Internet hosting company.

“In an age when more people are working from home, we’re hoping this is actually a page-turn moment where people will really feel they want to come back into work, spend time in Gloucester, and use the facilities like the gym and rooftop bar.”

The Forum is part of a wider development of Gloucester city centre

Gloucester City Council is also revamping Kings Square and King's Walk Shopping Centre as part of plans to "transform" the city centre.

“Not only are we doing the Forum but of course the university is refitting the Debenhams building as their city centre campus, so that will bring a lot more people to the city centre,” council leader Jeremy Hilton said.

“What it will also do is encourage smaller retailers and other to take up location in and around the Kings Square area.

"I think when it’s all done it will be an absolutely fantastic part of the city.”