By the time you read this, Gloucester’s infamous Golden Egg building in Kings Square will be in the process of being demolished. Having stood empty for a decade, it was widely-recognised as one of the city’s worst eyesores and an obstacle to progress. Its owner, insurance company Aviva, was granted planning permission to demolish it in 2011 but never implemented that consent.

I’m pleased I was able to persuade Aviva to sell the building to the City Council (we need it for the Kings Quarter development anyway) to allow us to demolish it. This, alongside some other interim improvements, will make the Kings Square area a better place and, just as importantly, demonstrate our determination to deliver the Kings Quarter scheme. It also proves that some of the problems that at times felt intractable can, to excuse the pun, be cracked.

In December John Whittaker, the billionaire Chairman of the Peel Group (owners of Gloucester Quays), paid a visit to Gloucester. He told us that his motto is DPP – determination, persistence and patience. That’s an approach that has served us well and with which we should continue. Indeed, Gloucester Quays took many years of planning before it was delivered.

At times, it seemed as though the Railway Triangle would never be developed. But now the new Morrisons store has opened, with a lot more to follow on site. Some people wondered whether we would ever deliver a new athletics track, but a much-improved facility at Blackbridge is now in use. After falling victim to flooding in 2007, it has felt a lifetime since Gloucester City Football Club played within the city boundaries. Thankfully they now have a thumbs-up from the Environment Agency for their plans to return to Meadow Park and their planning application can now be progressed.

We’ve been working on the Kings Quarter scheme, around Kings Square and the bus station, for a number of years. It’s been hard going at times and 2014 will be a critical year. But, as John Whittaker said, we need to show determination, persistence and patience. If we do that, I’m confident we will deliver it.