By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
There is renewed hope over plans to revitalise Gloucester’s nightlife hub with a new vision for Lower Eastgate Street.
City chiefs are in the process of developing a new master plan for Gloucester. The new blueprint has identified several areas which present the best opportunities to be redeveloped.
And Lower Eastgate Street, the main hub for nightlife and late-night clubs in the city, is seen as needing “complete reconditioning”.
Gloucester City Council wants to strengthen the street as a “vibrant” destination for businesses, visitors, and residents. And they hope to enhance the public realm through street greening, landscaping, and creating improved pedestrian spaces.
The council could redevelop the car parks in Hampden Way to deliver new city centre housing, according to the new city masterplan.
The draft document, which looks at how Gloucester could grow and change over the next 20 years, was scrutinised by civic chiefs earlier this week.
Councillor Terry Pullen (L, Moreland) was interested by the new plans for Lower Eastgate Street and asked how new housing could “fit together” with the night time economy.
Andrew Hearne, the council’s head of place, told the meeting: “So many people have said, ‘get our city centre sorted’.
“In terms of Lower Eastgate Street, I think it’s fundamentally a street that needs complete reconditioning.
“It is, for all intents and purposes, the night time street for Gloucester. That’s where all the students go, it’s where the clubs are if you’re into clubbing.”
He said it is a “strong street” and referenced previous plans for the area but explained it could not be pedestrianised due to the transport links through the street.
But he said something could be done to reduce the street’s opening hours to traffic as has been done elsewhere in the country.
And such public realm redevelopments give areas a “halo lift” with the investment bringing in new businesses and encouraging current establishments to sign longer leases.
“I still fundamentally believe that as a regeneration of a public realm scheme in the city, it’s one of the biggest opportunities we have,” he added.
Cllr Terry Pullen said there are a lot of “one-off” shops offering different types of uses in Eastgate Street currently and he asked how they could fit in with the plans.
“How can we fashion the uses of those premises to fit with the vision you’ve got?” he asked.
Mr Hearne agreed with Cllr Pullen and said “everyone has a role to play”. He explained there is a “significant level of appetite” among landlords to change the business landscape in the street.
“I’m not saying it would be easy,” he added. “And I’m not giving a guarantee.
“But if we don’t try, lower Eastgate Street will not move on and in ten years time it will still look the same.
“I fundamentally believe that with the right push and the right collegiate working there is a way we could do this.”
Justin Hudson, who runs Butlers bar, is among those who really welcome the plan.
He said so many businesses in the city devote enormous amounts of time, money and effort in maintaining and improving their premises.
And he sees investment in the public realm as a way of encouraging the same sense of pride through the entire street.
“I have spent many years working alongside various councils, officers and city partners discussing something that has long been close to my heart: bringing Lower Eastgate Street properly back into the fold of Gloucester city centre.
“For well over a decade, the ambition to pedestrianise, re-green and revitalise Lower Eastgate Street has been discussed. For many of us who live, work and invest here, it has been a long-held dream — and one that I genuinely believe could transform this historic and important gateway into our city.”
He believes if the street is improved it “can raise expectations and, in turn, encourage those landlords and property owners who perhaps haven’t shown their buildings the love they deserve to step up and play their part”.
He went on to say: “Investment breeds confidence, pride encourages further pride, and a well-cared-for street encourages people to respect, use and invest in it, it also allows us to work with the police and actively design out crime.
“I cannot thank Andrew Hearne and his team enough for the work, commitment and vision they have put into this project thus far. They have my full support, and I am very much at their disposal as the plans progress.
“Let’s make this happen. Let’s re-green Lower Eastgate Street, reconnect it with the heart of our city centre, and give this iconic Gloucester street the investment, attention and love it deserves.”