After years of planning, regeneration of Podsmead, Gloucester moves forward

Published by

Nicky Godding

Artists impression of regenerated Podsmead in Gloucester

GCH (Gloucester City Homes) has submitted a planning application for the regeneration of Podsmead in Gloucester.

The plans, which have been several years in the making, include a renewed local centre, new shops and a community space, an improved road layout, cycle routes and pedestrian routes across the site. The plans also include a new multi-use sports and play area, BMX pump track and more trees, shrubs and planting for communal gardens.

Last August, Gloucester City Homes agreed a £130 million finance package has been agreed with NatWest, which includes £30 million in new funding.

173 affordable new homes will include four new apartment blocks and 80 houses, while the housing association’s remaining homes in Podsmead will benefit from energy-efficiency improvements. As part of the development, Podsmead will also see its first ever pharmacy.

Executive Director of Customer Experience, Michael Hill said: “Podsmead is a special community where GCH has deep roots. We have drawn up our development plans in consultation with a wide range of partners including Gloucester City Council, Gloucestershire County Council, local residents, community groups, local schools, health services, the police and environmental groups.

“The improvements in shopping and leisure, the 173 new homes together with our investment in our existing homes will all provide an environment where everyone can thrive. All new properties will use sustainable energy sources and achieve the highest energy efficiency rating possible. Meanwhile, we will invest in our existing homes to bring them up to at least EPC C rating.”

The plans were drawn up by Gloucester-based Quattro Design Architects, a leading architectural practice in sustainable design.

Gloucester City Council will now hold its own period of consultation and their decision is anticipated by the end of 2024. If plans are approved, work could begin in March 2025.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.