It was December 2021 when developer Eutopia Homes revealed it had bought an eight-acre brownfield site next to Gloucester Railway Station, with plans to invest £70 million in building up to 300 new homes.
According to the firm’s founder and chief executive, Scott Hammond, despite the lows of the pandemic it was a ‘growing confidence’ in Gloucester that influenced the bold decision.
And true to its word the firm has now submitted plans to Gloucester City Council to transform the old railway sidings between the station and Great Western Road into a mixture of flats and houses for sale and rent.
Hammond said: ‘Recent investment by the University of Gloucestershire for the acquisition of the old Debenhams store for a new campus, along with the city council’s recent investment in driving a new cyber hub for the UK in close proximity to Gloucester City Council’s headquarters, will bring more employment to the city, which in turn will drive up the demand for high-quality housing.’
He added that the scheme would deliver ‘well-designed, high-quality and accessibly priced’ accommodation.
Gloucester City Council is currently working with developer Reef Group to deliver The Forum Digital, a £107 million scheme to regenerate Kings Square in the city centre.
The former Debenhams building forms one side of King’s Square and is due to benefit from a share of £20 million of Levelling-Up Fund as it is transformed into part of the University of Gloucestershire, with the rest going towards The Forge, a new cyber-focused business centre and Dowdeswell’s planned redevelopment of the former Fleece Hotel.
Plans are also continuing apace at the Food Dock, a development for 15 new food outlets beside Gloucester Docks Victoria Basin, plus recently revealed plans to develop the final part of the derelict historic buildings and land at Gloucester Quays.
