Last year, the City Council, with the help of the MP, put in an application to the Government for the Levelling Up fund. The full amount of £20 million was awarded, to be split amongst three major city centre regeneration projects – to the Forge, which is part of the new Forum development, to the University of Gloucestershire, to assist with the redevelopment of the former Debenhams building into its new city centre campus, and towards helping the repurposing and redevelopment of the Fleece Hotel on Westgate Street.

A few weeks ago, it became clear that the City would be eligible to bid into this funding stream a second time. With only a few weeks to prepare, we have been quickly preparing for a bid to do some more regeneration work behind the museum on Brunswick Road. This work would extend to the west of the Museum, across the former bowling green, through the indoor market and include the Greyfriars monument and buildings at the rear of the Eastgate shopping centre.

Redevelopment of the market into a cultural and event space

The current consideration is that the indoor market outlets will move into a purpose-built indoor and outdoor area in currently unused space within the shopping centre, which would enable the redevelopment of the market into a cultural and event space. This could be used for a variety of performance offerings, and it could also be an overflow for the museum to create specific exhibitions.

The Greyfriars monument could change into a courtyard area, served by a food and beverage outlet. There would also be other changes to both external and internal spaces to enhance the offering, including some residential opportunities.
At this stage, these are only plans, as Government departments will have to consider this bid alongside many other bids from other authorities. But a good bid, supported again by the MP Richard Graham, could be persuasive enough to win funding to do this regeneration and would thereby redevelop another segment of the city centre.

This redevelopment is designed to draw more visitors to the city centre, extending its daily life into a full daytime and evening offer.