City centre £107m Forum officially open

A £107m city-centre development has officially opened.

The Forum, which opened on Friday as part of the King's Quarter regeneration In Gloucester, features a multi-storey car park, more than 106,000 sq ft (9,847 sqm) of office space, a four-star hotel, shops and homes.

The developer and the city council said it is a major investment in Gloucester's future, and hope it will help regenerate the city centre.

However, there have also been questions about the fact that only 35% of the office space is currently occupied.

"This is a fantastic development that's taken place in the city of Gloucester," said city council leader Jeremy Hilton.

"Gloucester is a remarkable city and deserves a place like the Forum," said Peter Langley-Smith, managing director of the council's development partner Reef.

"It's the final piece of the King's Quarter jigsaw and we're excited to have it open, occupied and full of life."

In response to concerns about current empty units, Hilton said the development would be good for local businesses due to the additional footfall.

"It's going to bring a lot more people into work on a regular basis in the city centre," he said.

"We expect to see more restaurants or food and beverage outlets opening in King Square area.

Labour leader Terry Pullen previously said the scale of the "void" office space likely reflects wider changes in working patterns.

Langley-Smith described the building as a "flexible" space which has been tailored to suit a variety of different occupants.

"There's an acceptance that the way of working is obviously changing, and who knows what that will look like in the future," he said.

"But creating an environment which invites all of those different occupiers with different needs, in an environment where they can sort of absorb and accept those changes, is really important."

Hilton added the project was still delivered within budget, with the total cost of the development costing the city council £107m.

It was expected to have been completed in 2024, and it has been previously reported that the delays have cost taxpayers over £450,000 in lost income.

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