Gloucester city centre is set to see huge improvements, as a new scheme to transform the area around Eastgate Shopping Centre has been approved.
Gloucester City Council will receive £11 million from the government's Levelling Up Fund to turn what it's calling the Greyfriars Quarter into a stylish new shopping and community area.
It put in a previous bid of £12.5 million to fully refurbish the area, which proved unsuccessful — however the government has now agreed to put this substantial new investment behind the project.
The plans include creating a new garden quarter with spaces for community activities, as well as a new market and food hall to accommodate Gloucester's many independent food and drink producers.
The current market space will be transformed into a multi-use performance area for live music, dancing, fitness and other leisure events.
Serviced apartments and flexible workspaces have also been proposed, as well as the construction of a new urban park with outdoor gym equipment, a cycle hub and a children's play area.
Leader of Gloucester City Council, councillor Richard Cook said: 'Christmas came early for Gloucester. The nature of city centres is changing and we're coming up with new ways to reuse these spaces as places for leisure, living and learning as well as retail, which will ensure the city remains a vibrant place to visit.'
Gloucester MP, councillor Richard Graham, added: 'This complements work done by our council in Kings Square and The Forum, and the University of Gloucestershire at the new City Campus, as well as GWR-led work at Gloucester railway station.
'It's another great sign of confidence in our plans to improve Gloucester.'
Neighbouring Cheltenham also received a £20 million boost from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for its prestigious Golden Valley Development — an ongoing initiative to deliver a National Cyber Innovation Centre in the UK's cyber capital.
