Gloucester City Council has launched a public consultation on a new Masterplan that will help shape the future of the city over the next 20 to 25 years.
The Gloucester City Masterplan, created by placemaking consultants Prior + Partners, sets out a long-term vision for Gloucester, providing a strategic city-wide framework to guide sustainable growth, regeneration and investment.
Designed to support a thriving, resilient and inclusive city, the Masterplan aims to build on Gloucester’s strengths while helping to address future challenges, from economic growth and housing to climate resilience, connectivity and placemaking.
Residents, businesses, community groups and visitors are now being invited to share their views on the proposals. The consultation will help shape the final Masterplan by gathering feedback on the future of the city, the changes people would most like to see, and where investment and improvements should be prioritised, particularly within the city centre.
The Gloucester City Framework Masterplan is built around three core elements:
- The Place Ambition: developed through engagement with residents and stakeholders, the Place Ambition sets out a shared vision and objectives for Gloucester’s future.
- The Spatial Framework: this framework illustrates how the ambition can be delivered. It identifies strategic areas of change where interventions would be most impactful in repositioning the city centre as the Civic Core in Gloucester.
- The Delivery and Investment Plan: this plan will set out the strategic approach for implementing the Masterplan, translating the Spatial Framework into a co-ordinated and achievable programme of actions.
Within the Place Ambition there are four Ambition Themes that aim to support Gloucester’s growth as a connected county capital that celebrates its rich heritage and waterfront setting while creating opportunities for future generations:
- Environment – a climate-resilient city shaped by its waterways and green landscapes
- Place – a city that celebrates heritage, culture and connected neighbourhoods
- People – a city that expands opportunity and supports healthy, inclusive communities
- Economy – a forward-looking economy that retains talent and builds on Gloucester’s strengths
The Masterplan will be the first city-wide framework of its kind since the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Framework, which helped shape transformational projects including Gloucester Docks and Quays, Kings Square and the city’s transport hub.
With The Forum complete and the Greyfriars regeneration project progressing at pace, Gloucester is at a pivotal point in its development. The Council believes the Masterplan provides an opportunity to build on this momentum and establish a clear roadmap for the city’s future over the coming decades.
Andrew Hearne, Director of Place, Assets and Regeneration at Gloucester City Council, said: “This Masterplan provides an opportunity to create a clear, long-term vision for Gloucester and ensure future investment is guided by what matters most to our communities. The city has undergone significant change over recent years, but there is still more to do. We want to hear from residents, businesses and organisations about the opportunities and priorities they believe will help Gloucester thrive over the coming decades.”
The masterplanners, planners and place economists at Prior + Partners were appointed to create the transformative new masterplan for the city centre, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Elise Baudon, Director of Masterplanning at Prior + Partners, said: ‘Working closely with Gloucester City Council and engaging with stakeholders, we have sought to develop a long-term vision that builds on the city’s distinctive character, heritage and strengths, while responding to its future opportunities and challenges.
Public consultation is an important next step in this process, providing an opportunity to hear from the people who know Gloucester best. We look forward to hearing a range of views, ideas and priorities, which will be carefully considered alongside our ongoing work with the Council and stakeholders to help shape and refine the final Masterplan. Our aim is to create a spatial framework that provides a strong foundation for Gloucester’s future, while reflecting the aspirations of its communities.”
Members of the public can take part in the consultation by visiting gloucester.gov.uk/MasterplanConsultation
Consultation closes on Monday 23 November 2026.