New proposals have been submitted to expand a significant regeneration project in Gloucester city centre. Reef + Partners, the developer behind the Whitefriars development located at the intersection of Market Parade and Spread Eagle Road, is seeking planning permission to increase the number of residential flats from 24 to 36.
Situated less than half a mile from Gloucester Station and the city’s cathedral, the site is currently home to a five-storey apartment block completed in December 2022. This initial phase comprised 19 flats ranging from one to three bedrooms, all of which are now fully occupied.
The revised plans include the addition of an extra storey to the existing Whitefriars building, raising it from five to six storeys to accommodate the proposed 36 apartments. These will feature nine one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, and eight three-bedroom flats. Notably, eight of these units, equating to 22%, will be designated as affordable housing. The scheme also incorporates accessible dwellings to cater to diverse resident needs.
Complementary infrastructure in the proposals includes three disabled parking spaces, provision for 64 bicycles, new landscaping, and additional access points designed to enhance connectivity.
Phase one of the Whitefriars development was valued at approximately £8 million and received acclaim at the Insider Media South West Residential Property Awards, winning the ‘Small Residential Development of the Year.’ The judges highlighted the project’s contribution to city centre regeneration, particularly its role as a notable brownfield redevelopment.
Representing Reef + Partners, Avison Young has stated that the proposals maintain the site’s established use and regeneration goals, optimising a sustainable brownfield location within Gloucester city centre in line with planning policies.
They describe the plan as a continuation of the residential phase of the wider King’s Quarter regeneration-a transformative mixed-use project aiming to strengthen links between the railway station, Gloucester Cathedral, and the retail heart of the city.
The King’s Quarter development also includes The Forum, a landmark mixed-use building offering modern office spaces, retail outlets, hotel accommodations, and public areas to foster economic growth and revitalisation within the city.
The latest planning application marks a crucial step in delivering the broader objectives of King’s Quarter, which remains a key priority in Gloucester City Council’s regeneration strategy.
The proposals promise numerous social and economic benefits, among them the creation of 36 new homes, enhanced affordable housing stock, increased local population to boost footfall and spending, and ongoing support for the vitality of the city centre.
In recent developments related to King’s Quarter, the Hotel Indigo by IHG opened a 129-room hotel adjacent to the Whitefriars site in April, further contributing to the area’s regeneration.
The planning application has been validated, and a public consultation phase is scheduled to commence from 12 September, inviting community engagement on this next phase of Gloucester’s city centre transformation.