A major milestone has been reached in the regeneration of Gloucester city centre with the opening of a new 398-space car park at The Forum.
The multi-storey car park, which opened to the public today, is operated by international parking specialist Q-Park and is located on Station Road. It offers 24-hour access, barriered entry and ticketless parking, with drivers able to pre-book spaces online.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the facility includes 38 electric vehicle charging points, with scope to convert additional bays in future, as well as 15 disabled parking spaces. The site is intended to serve both The Forum development and the wider city centre.
The car park forms part of the £107 million Forum scheme, delivered by Gloucester City Council in partnership with developers Reef + Partners. The wider development includes Grade A office space, residential apartments, retail units and a four-star Hotel Indigo.
One of the most striking features of the car park is a 600 square metre living wall, wrapping around two sides of the building. Made up of more than 4,800 panels and around 48,000 plants, the vertical garden is designed to capture the equivalent carbon of 32 trees, while boosting biodiversity, improving air quality and helping to regulate the building’s temperature during warmer months.
Councillor Jeremy Hilton, leader of Gloucester City Council, said the opening came at an important time for the city.
“The opening of the car park is an exciting milestone in our development, and it will be just in time to welcome shoppers and visitors to our city this Christmas,” he said. “We know there’s a huge demand for parking, and this new multi-storey will help meet that demand while being modern, secure and sustainable.”
The Forum development also provides pedestrian access onto Cathedral Walk, a public space between the two buildings that features Forest of Dean stone and planting inspired by Gloucester’s Roman, medieval and Victorian heritage.
Peter Langly-Smith, managing director of Reef + Partners, said parking provision was essential to the success of the scheme.
“With premium offices, co-working space, a hotel, homes and retail all connecting to the wider King’s Quarter, it was vital that ample parking was available on site,” he said.
Adam Bidder, managing director of Q-Park UK, added: “We’re thrilled to open our first parking facility in Gloucester within such a prestigious development and look forward to welcoming customers and demonstrating the quality service we offer.”