GLOUCESTER RENAISSANCE
providing specialist project, commercial and construction management services, acknowledged the difficulty of the project in a rapidly changing landscape. “If two developers can’t make it work there is your red light – right there,” he said. “The Quays happened right on the cusp of the retail revolution and people starting to shop online. The footfall has fallen off on the high street and the problem is how to fill it. “Strategy and planning is what you need.” He warned about the danger of thinking solving the built environment was simple. “You have to work with what is there and you have to infill the infrastructure around it. You can’t surgically remove all the 1970s mistakes and push everything else together so you just have the good stuff.” Joe Roberts picked up on the idea of the city being bookended by complimentary quarters which would each draw people in. “King's Square is an opportunity for another bookend. I think the bus station is a great start. Like the change that started the Quays it is another potential catalyst for the other end of the city. “A lot of people have talked about Gloucester not having a venue – an arts centre. But if you put it in King’s Square, next to the station, all of a sudden you have a venue that might also stimulate some employment around it. “King’s Square is a great opportunity. If you can get a vibrant mix of arts – a venue, which is what the county is crying out for, with the clear 24-hour living in there
you can start to reinvigorate The Cross.” Becky Brown: “Gloucester really needs to define a retail core to the city. I think that should be in place in the review of the next Joint Core Strategy. I think that is the opportunity, but you need to be mindful you are not competing with the Quays. It should have its on USP. By being creative we can help drive people on through the city." Mr Jones:“I think there are some disruptors coming into the market.We need people to come into the market to redefine what is happening in retail. “It needs an authority to be flexible with us and not be too protective about new retail free agents. Planning has to be able to respond to the market” Mr Williamson: “I think you have to move away from the traditional view. You have to encourage town centre development. You have to openly encourage employment.” Chris Price said:“One of the things that has come out of
90 | July 2019 | www. punchline-gloucester .com
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