Gloucester’s flagship £107 million development, The Forum, is encountering unexpected delays as city officials report it is behind schedule. The King’s Quarter project, a major regeneration effort, aims to deliver 135,000 square feet of high-end office space, retail outlets, restaurants, a Hotel Indigo, a rooftop bar, and a multi-storey car park.
Spearheaded by Gloucester City Council in partnership with the Reef Group, The Forum is designed to be a landmark that revitalizes the city centre. Its distinctive façades draw inspiration from the cloisters of nearby Gloucester Cathedral, showcasing a blend of modern architectural design and homage to the city’s heritage.
The building features 1,324 aluminum and glass panels along with an innovative media façade, incorporating a striking 17-metre high by 9-metre wide LED lighting system integrated into its walls. Progress appeared promising during a site visit for journalists in October last year, with council leaders describing the project as “nearing completion.”
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However, over eight months later, project leaders acknowledge that The Forum is still not ready to open. Details about the specific causes of the delay remain undisclosed. During a recent city council overview and scrutiny committee meeting, Chairman Andrew Gravells inquired about the financial and scheduling status of the development.
Deputy Leader and Resources Cabinet Member Declan Wilson confirmed setbacks, stating, “It’s behind schedule which is causing us a problem.” Despite this, he highlighted that leasing activity is exceeding expectations. Wilson likened the experience to other large-scale projects, explaining, “They are never quite complete to the date you are expecting to.”
Wilson expressed a preference for the building to have opened earlier but attributed delays to “teething problems.” When questioned further about the nature of the issues, council officials described them as related to “snagging,” a term typically used to denote final fixes and adjustments needed before opening.
While council members maintained discretion on commercially sensitive details, the community remains hopeful that The Forum will soon become fully operational, delivering on its promise to rejuvenate Gloucester’s city centre.