City 'set for new dawn' with plan for empty shops

Kings Square has been a focal point in the regeneration of Gloucester

A city centre could be "set for a new dawn" thanks to plans to split large empty shop units and reopen them to encourage smaller businesses.

Empty units owned by Gloucester City Council could be used to run events, galleries, workshops and performances.

It comes after concerns were raised about the state of the city centre by councillors.

But Luke Lutman, president of Gloucester Chamber of Commerce, said work is under way behind the scenes to rejuvenate the city centre.

'Confidence and investment'

Mr Lutman said Gloucester has been "wrestling with the evolving role of the high street" in the wake of consumer demand changes, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

“The city centre may not be the bustling place it once was but that is all about to change thanks to the confidence and investment pouring into the city," he said.

“It has reached a transition point in its long-anticipated regeneration, with the development of the Forum and the new City Campus."

Mr Lutman said the city council has been holding "regular meetings with stakeholders to make sure the development of the city supports the residents, communities, students and businesses that call the city home".

He said research is presented at these meetings by university academics and ideas and solutions are put forward.

“These ideas have included splitting large retail units up into smaller units that are more affordable to encourage small businesses to take on a space in the city," he said.

“This has proved popular and a winning solution in the Gloucester Food Dock and Box Park shipping container-based developments in other cities."

'Far from dead'

He added cultural activation of spaces is also being explored to develop the city's cultural offering and night-time economy.

“Although it feels like an empty building site now, there is a lot happening behind the scenes to rejuvenate the city with many more exciting announcements to come," Mr Lutman said.

"The city centre is far from dead and is set for a new dawn."

Gloucester City Council has been approached for comment.