Gloucester is set to receive a significant £20 million investment aimed at transforming the Matson and Robinswood neighborhoods over the next ten years. This funding comes from the Government’s Pride in Place programme, dedicating £2 million each year to improve local amenities, infrastructure, and community spaces.
What makes this initiative unique is that residents themselves will have a decisive role in determining how the funds are used. Whether it’s enhancing parks, revitalizing empty buildings, or rejuvenating shopping areas, local people will collaborate to prioritize projects that best meet the community’s needs.
A call will soon be issued inviting residents to volunteer for a newly formed local Neighbourhood Board. This board will oversee and coordinate the allocation of funding, ensuring transparency and effective investment decisions.
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Labour MP Alex McIntyre, who championed the campaign to secure the funding, emphasized the importance of local input, stating: “Local people know their area better than anyone else and that is why the Government has decided to do things differently with Pride in Place. This is our chance to improve our area by giving residents the opportunity to shape the plans and make the big decisions.”
He added, “When I was elected, I promised to fight for our city and for areas like Matson and Robinswood that have long awaited meaningful investment and regeneration. I am proud to have delivered on that promise. This £20 million will change lives over the next decade, and I will make sure it’s spent where local people need it most.”
Community Independent Councillor Alastair Chambers, representing Matson and Robinswood on both Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucester City Council, welcomed the funding boost as a “real opportunity” for long-lasting positive change.
“Residents here have pride and ambition,” Chambers commented. “What they need is sustained investment that supports local jobs, services, and opportunities—not short-term handouts or decisions handed down from Westminster.”
He stressed that the funding should focus on tangible improvements: “Safer streets, better services, stronger opportunities, and neighborhoods people are proud to call home.”
Liberal Democrat leader on Gloucester City Council Jeremy Hilton expressed hope that the decade-long commitment would foster stronger community bonds, upgrade essential local spaces, and empower residents to shape their neighborhood’s future.
The Neighbourhood Board, made up of residents, businesses, community organizations, and local councillors, will ensure that the investment aligns with the real needs of Matson and Robinswood, paving the way for lasting community-led regeneration.