Gloucester City Council has today set out plans to invest a further £1million in the city centre.

The £2million that was generated from the sale of the St Oswalds car park has been put directly into the City Centre Investment Fund (CCIF).

This fund is dedicated to projects that will improve the city centre.

Last year, some of these projects included new Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems in Eastgate and Kings Walk car parks and the regeneration of a number historic buildings.

Later this month, cabinet will be asked to review the progress on the schemes that have been allocated budget from the CCIF.

The projects that have benefited from funding include:

Business growth grants:

Using a total of £50,000 from the CCIF, the city council is planning to fund business development, specifically business start-up and growth proposals that will create lasting jobs.

It is predicted that most grants will be between £1,000 and £5,000, though exceptional proposals could receive a maximum of £10,000.

City centre targeted historic grant scheme:

This scheme was originally launched in July 2013 and is receiving a total of £112,000 from the CCIF.

Buildings that have already benefited from this grant include 59-61 Westgate Street, which was redecorated, and 97 Westgate Street, which received a new shop front.

Over the next year £77,000 from the CCIF will be allocated to the following properties in Gloucester:

• 26 Westgate Street: Receive structural repairs.

• 39 Westgate Street: The building will be restored.

• 41 Westgate Street: The building will receive a new shop front, and the upper floors may become a one bedroom apartment.

Street lighting:

Within a revised budget of £30,000, the following areas in Gloucester will be improved:

• Replacing most of the lights at The Guildhall with LED, which last longer and are more cost effective to run and maintain;

• Four flood lights at the cross on the Gate Streets will be replaced by two light columns with multi-head systems, to highlight the surrounding architecture and enhance the overall lighting;

• The Westgate Street and College Street junction, adjacent to the Cathedral Precincts, will receive the same lighting that is in place at Kimbrose Triangle on Southgate Street.

Quality public toilet provision:

The CCIF has put aside £100,000 to provide high-quality public toilets in the city centre.

Public Realm Strategy:

As part of the continued work on public realm within the city, a further £30,000 has been allocated to look at potential schemes for the regeneration of the public realm in the four Gate Streets.

The city council will be launching a consultation later this year and asking for public opinions on the proposals.

Kings Walk Bastion:

The city council has allocated £20,000 from the CCIF on re-opening the Kings Walk Bastion.

By improving the historic building its heritage is highlighted and will draw tourism to Gloucester, in turn increasing footfall to the city centre.

Improvements that have been undertaken are:

• A new pump and back-up pump to keep the chamber dry

• New lighting

• Repairs to the chamber cover/hatch

• General cleaning

City museum phase two:

Phase two of improvements to the museum includes stone and glass repairs and maintaining the roof.

Economic Profiling and Cultural Strategy:

£20,000 of the CCIF is being spent on an economic assessment of the city centre. This will show the council economic trends, existing and potential occupiers, and other uses that will support regeneration schemes. Importantly it will be used as evidence when talking to investors in the emerging Kings Quarter scheme.

Cllr Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council and cabinet member for regeneration, said: "Our decision to put aside £2million to support the city centre shows our commitment to its future.

"We need to ensure we get the maximum impact from this investment, so it is vital that we monitor it closely. We've seen some exciting projects be delivered already with more to come.

"This funding is in addition to the major investment we have made in the new bus station, the resurfacing of Eastgate Car Park and our work on the Kings Quarter scheme.

"It's right that the city centre is there at the top of our regeneration priorities."

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