Drive-thru Costa, hotel and restaurant plan for derelict Bakers Quay in Gloucester
MULTI-MILLION pound plans to redevelop Gloucester Docks have been heralded a "big step forward".
An 80-bed Premier Inn hotel, a Costa Drive Thru and a Brewers Fayre family restaurant are all being signed up to move into the derelict Bakers Quay.
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eyesore: The mixed-use waterside development site in Gloucester Docks.
A planning application is expected to be submitted as early as April for the redevelopment of the waterfront area off St Ann Way.
Site owner Dick Bishop was tight-lipped over the plans yesterday after previous plans for the site failed.
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"We are in negotiations," he said. "We've been here before so we don't want to jump the gun.
"It is all good though. It is very important that we redevelop the site."
The historic Grade-II listed Malthouse Extension and Provender Mill will become new flats. Housing developer Crest Nicholson, which was heavily involved in other Docks warehouse transformations, has signed up.
The Malthouse will be an area for new food and drink outlets and the Premier Inn, Costa and Brewers Fayre would be nearby new-builds.
All three firms are owned by Whitbread, a key player who is expected to sign a contract next week.
City MP Richard Graham said: "Bakers Quay is the last part of the Gloucester Quays jigsaw and these announcements are a big step forward."
The project will be delivered by Rokeby Developments, who have built retail parks across the country.
Councillor Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council, said: "If we have some genuine ideas for a scheme that it is deliverable that is great.
"The site is a real eyesore. It is something that everyone in Gloucester is desperate to see sorted.
"There are some very important listed buildings there. That is why people have been so concerned about seeing it brought back to life.
"There is such a contrast from that site to what has happened around it with Gloucester Quays and if we can get it sorted then it will go some way in transforming the whole area."
22 Comments
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by TimMessanger
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 1:48AM
“Glos_lad34 - this land is privately owned it's not the council, it might help if you read the piece before commenting?”
by Glos_Lad34
Monday, March 04 2013, 10:09AM
“* City council my fault”
by Glos_Lad34
Monday, March 04 2013, 10:03AM
“Can't they think of anything else to put there hey Gloucestershire County Counci very poor :(”
by spindles12
Sunday, March 03 2013, 10:00PM
“jas37 said "It will be interesting to see the details of the Planning application, only then will we be able to assess the desirability of this proposed development.""
If you go to the City Council Planning page and put 13/00174/LBC into the search box you'll get what looks like the latest application for Baker's Quay. If you look at some of the documents you'll see some drawings (elevations) that show what the finished article should look like. I have to say it looks a right mish-mash of styles which hopefully will look better in the flesh than on paper.”
by Beekeeper
Sunday, March 03 2013, 6:18PM
“Costa Coffee, Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre - these down market chain suppliers will turn Gloucester into just another "clone town" with no character of its own. This sort of development is just what we need to avoid. It will attract no-one.”
by MrGarnet
Sunday, March 03 2013, 3:55PM
“Redevelopment is good news.
Not sure about hotel is there that much demand?”
by jas37
Sunday, March 03 2013, 10:18AM
“My penultimate paragraph should have read-
"It will be interesting to see the details of the Planning application, only then will we be able to assess the desirability of this proposed development."”
by jas37
Saturday, March 02 2013, 8:43PM
“It's a great pity that Bishop Bros didn't accept Peel's reported multi-million £ offer a few years ago which would have enabled this site to be included in the Gloucester Quays development.
I understand that Peel's plans were much more ambitious (and at least included a 4 Star Hotel rather than a Premier Inn) but Bishop's apparently dug their heels in asking a reported £12m, consequently the site's remained derelict.
While I welcome additional Waterfront Bars and Restaurant's and consider the Premier Inn to have slightly positive effect I certainly would not welcome a Drive-through Costa.
This would not be the best use of this space.
And I would much prefer to see Office space on the upper floors ( I appreciate that their may be current issues with lack of demand) rather than Residential.
Hundreds of Office workers milling around the area during the week would have a much more positive effect than a few Residents.
It would be good to see as much Leisure use as possible - excluding the Costa.
Just imagine the draw to the area that the Robert Opie Museum would be. I understand his terms and requirements may be demanding but what credibility it would bring to the whole scheme if they could be accommodated.
Presumably the Bingo Hall will be bulldozed when the Peel Centre is redeveloped.
Surely it would sense for it to be relocated to the Baker's Quay site close to the new Cinema, Bars and Restaurants,perhaps with a Casino to complement it.
It will be interesting to see the details of the Planning application, only then will we be able to access the desirability of this proposed development.
Of course, I suppose there is always the possibility that this plan is purely a bluff to perhaps inflate the value of any potential future offer from Peel/Gloucester Quays for this plot of land.”
by supernova1
Saturday, March 02 2013, 3:55PM
“While I appreciate every single previous comment, they are all so very negative.
We would all like to turn the clock back ten years, but we are where we are.
I find situations like this make us all into brilliant 'armchair entrepreneurs'.
Bit like the national football team, 'no, don't pass it to him......'cor blimey, he's missed a sitter, my gran could do better than that........'
We all think we have good ideas, but are any of us actually doing anything about it?
At least the investors are trying to kick start the economy.
Yes, they are all chains, and yes, there is duplication, but unless we become like Totnes, and have selected nationals, I mean, come on, no Costa allowed, but there's a WH Smith, and there was a Woolworths, that is just protectionism, and is actually illegal.
It's not as though there is a surfeit of independents in Gloucester.
The other alternative is more housing, and look what they have done to The Docks already.
I don't think any of us have any idea of the complexities of re-development, as I say, all 'armchair entrepreneurs'.
So in the absence of any alternative, might I suggest that we at least give it a go, then come back in five years, as the doom mongers predict.”
by BishopHooper
Saturday, March 02 2013, 2:21PM
“As much as I applaud brown field sights put to use, I do question withwhat and how they came to that decision... Seems to me its a case of offer cheap leases, see who takes up on the initial offer and stck them in, there appears to be no p,an for long term sustainability. We have a Travelodge already at the keys thats is half empty, why the need for ANOTHER budget hotel, a drive through coffee shop and a Brewers fare, when there is an identical pub on the other side of the bridge... I can see the initial flurry, but in 5 years time.. Empty units.. Back to square one.”