I was recently invited to attend a groundbreaking ceremony in the Kings Quarter area of the city. The location was at the back of Market Parade and the development is a new retail outlet and 19 apartments. These are expected to be finished and ready for occupation by next summer.

Behind those buildings, the area around Spreadeagle Road is being made available to a registered housing provider to build 25 affordable homes, giving a total of 44 new homes in that small part of the city centre.

The transfer of Tesco’s operation in Grosvenor House into the new retail outlet will make it possible to demolish Grosvenor House, clearing the way for the next part of the Kings Quarter Development – the Forum itself, which will deliver offices employing over 1,000 workers. This next step will commence in summer of 2022 and complete in the first part of 2024.

Also ongoing in that area at the moment is the construction work in the new Kings Square. People who are passing will see the new sculptural edging, much of which has now been installed. Although Covid delays are impacting timings because of construction material shortages, it is still expected that the entire renewed and revitalised square, with its amazing fountain and decorative lighting, will be ready later this year and we are hoping to have the city’s Christmas tree displayed in time for Christmas.

Amazing plans for redevelopment

Next to the square, the former Debenhams building has been purchased by the University and there are amazing plans for redevelopment. Some of this may be paid for by the City Council’s application for £20 million towards levelling up funding. The first stages may include moving the library from Brunswick Road into the ground floor and possibly basement. This will allow the Museum’s possible expansion into the vacated space. As the University’s refurbishment continues, they are looking to expand occupancy by the end of this decade to up to 4,700 students attending a variety of courses.

In many parts of the city centre the pace of regeneration is accelerating, but it’s not just to put in more shops. It is a deliberate attempt to repurpose what is there by having more people live in city centre locations, more people study in the University facilities, more people work in the Grade A offices at the Forum, and more people enjoying the activities planned for Kings Square itself.