Gloucester City Council competes for prestigious national award
Gloucester City Council is to compete for a prestigious MJ Achievement Award, which recognises excellence in local government, with its ambitious plans for Kings Walk.
The city council is a finalist in the Innovation in Property and Asset Management category for the partnership with Reef Group, as the delivery partners of the Kings Walk Shopping Centre.
The partners have worked together to create ambitious regeneration plans for the centre and to attract new high profile tenants.
The announcement of the winner will take place tomorrow (Wednesday, June 26) at an awards ceremony in London with Gloucester pitted against Conwy County Borough Council, Lincoln City Council, the London Boroughs of Enfield Council and Sutton Council and Staffordshire County Council.
The Kings Walk plans complement the wider Kings Quarter scheme, which will see the transformation of that area of the city.
The overhaul of the shopping centre at a cost of around £7 million sees a total revamp of Kings Walk and Clarence Walk, the construction of a modern glass atrium and new contemporary looking entrances. The work is in addition to the £5 million scheme for Kings Square due to start in autumn.
It includes refurbishment of the former BHS store on Eastgate Street set to be occupied by a major retailer.
Already underway are improvements to Kings Walk Shopping Centre’s roof top car park which will be followed by upgrading of the street frontage facing Eastgate Street.
New public toilets are also featured incorporating a Changing Places facility for people who have physical disabilities and who need more space and equipment to use toilets safely and comfortably.
The partnership between the Council and Reef Group not only enables the regeneration of Kings Walk but also allows the Council to benefit from growth in the rental income to support the services it provides.
Future phases of the regeneration plans will also bring in new uses to Kings Walk to reduce its reliance on retail and add vitality to the area.
Leader of Gloucester City Council, Councillor Paul James, said: “We are extremely proud of our Kings Walk scheme and delighted that our bold approach to transforming the city centre been recognised.
“Being judged against other schemes across the country is a great opportunity to learn from our peers and to show others the fantastic work that is being done in Gloucester.”