Hopes high over HMP Gloucester prison site future

HMP Gloucester houses 320 inmates

The closure of HMP Gloucester is a "huge regeneration opportunity" Gloucester MP Richard Graham has said.

The prison is one of seven to close as part of government cost-cutting measures.

Conservative Mr Graham said: "It would be a wonderful place - potentially to knock down that wall on the road which is not a listed part of the structure and open it up with new apartments."

The Category B adult jail houses 320 inmates but will close at end of March.

Part of the building is a Grade-II listed and was designed by prison architect William Blackburn.

Mr Graham said work could begin on a plan for the future once the site is fully de-commissioned and the "human issues" are resolved such as prison officer jobs.

"It is important having more people live in the city centre, that's what will bring the city centre more alive especially in the evening times where all of us feel that it empties too quickly and it will provide trade for restaurants and cafes in the evening as well as lunchtime," added Mr Graham.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "We are considering the future use of all the prison sites due to close. No decisions have been made."