Gloucester City Council is reflecting on its 'landmark' regeneration project The Forum, with the award-winning development fully operational as of March 2026.
With the opening of the four-star Hotel Indigo last month following the launch of its office space with both Gloucester international web hosting firm, Fasthosts, and national co-working firm, Patch, arriving in 2025, a council report published this month confirms that the development project is now complete.
The report praises the project for delivering all the major components of the original concept 'in scope and quality', within the final budget approved by councillors, 'despite being built during one of the most disrupted construction periods in decades'.
The project has successfully delivered:
- The first four‑star hotel in Gloucester, the IHG‑operated Hotel Indigo
- Grade A office space, which is rare in Gloucester
- A 399‑space city‑centre car park
- 1.8 acres of new public realm
- EPC A across all buildings
- BREEAM Excellent design standard
- On‑site renewables and green infrastructure
While there's plenty to celebrate about the project, it hasn't all been plain sailing, with rising costs attributed to global supply chain disruption, labour shortages and inflation, and subsequent delays to its completion having contributed to the council's dire finances.
Council leader, Jeremy Hilton, said of its challenges: 'The project did become more expensive during construction because of unforeseen underground gas pipes and massive construction inflation due to the global pandemic.
'The council approved additional funding at that point. After that, the project was delivered within the budget the council had signed off, avoiding even higher costs by settling disputes rather than going to court.'
When an update was given to councillors on the £115.1 million project this month, concerns were raised about the take up of its office space, with around two thirds – 65 per cent – remaining empty.
The council says lettings 'are progressing in line with national market conditions', with Andy Hearne, head of place at the council, acknowledging that the rise of home working post-pandemic has caused a shift in the office space market nationally.
He said the council had changed its planning for the space accordingly, which was the rationale for bringing in Patch to offer space for hybrid workers and startups, according to local democracy reporter Carmelo Garcia.
He added that while the next 18 months would be interesting for the market as a whole, he believes the council's strategy for The Forum is the right one, telling councillors: 'I don’t think we need to be looking at alternative uses for that space just yet.'
Peter Langley-Smith, managing director of the council's development partner, Reef, said they are seeing a desire across the market for firms to be in the very best places in order to attract the best talent, describing The Forum buildings as 'absolutely market leading'.
He also echoed comments from Andy Hearne that The Forum offers 'premium office space at Gloucester rents', with that affordability helping to make it attractive to businesses when compared with similar space in Bristol or other markets.
Meanwhile, the council says it has identified lessons for the future following its detailed review of The Forum, clearer early‑stage cost certainty, formal contingency planning and enhanced commercial and risk oversight, all of which is now being embedded into the council's wider capital programme.
