Eastgate Market and Greyfriars £12m revamp ‘will be delivered’ despite inflation

Gloucester’s £12.5m plan to regenerate Eastgate Shopping Centre should be published in March as city chiefs are confident the project will be a success despite rising construction costs.

Gloucester City Council was successful in its bid for Government funding in November which will pave the way for a complete revamp of the Greyfriars Quarter.

The project aims to see part of the shopping centre including the market hall, given an overhaul and repurposed with spaces set aside for community activities, a new market and food hall, as well as a park and gardens, all set within the grounds of the 13th century Greyfriars monastery.

The market hall will be relocated to another part of the shopping centre, with a contemporary new design that would see it open up onto a landscaped courtyard garden.

While the current market would be refurbished to house a multi-purpose performance space for dance, music, fitness, community and leisure events.

The plan also includes a proposal to create serviced apartments, providing a unique place to stay and the creation of flexible workspaces within the refurbished 18th century house adjacent to the friary.

The City Council has until March 2026 to deliver the project and opposition leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) asked leaders at North Warehouse if they were confident they could deliver the scheme given the rising costs.

“I assume we will have to buy in expertise to deliver such a project,” he told the cabine meeting on January 10.

“From memory, our bid document provided for a city council contribution of £1.5m on top of the £11m we are getting from the Government.

“With the inflationary costs in construction this figure might rise. Are you confident the council has the resources to raise its contribution if it is required to ensure a successful delivery of this regeneration project in the Greyfriars area of Gloucester.”

Council leader Richard Cook (C, Kingsway) said it’s too early to make such a commitment as that inflation is yet to occur and the authority has not yet decided the scope of the work that will be undertaken.

However, he said he is confident that “we will deliver a successful project in that area”.

Cllr Hilton said it was a very important regeneration project that his group supports but it needs input from all councillors and full public consultation. He also asked when the project plan would be made available.

“It mustn’t be a project that’s kept to an exclusive few people in this council, it must be one that is shared with everyone in the council,” Cllr Hilton said.

Cllr Cook said it is expected to be available by March for councillors to look at. And assured Cllr Hilton that all members would be included in it.

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

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