The long-awaited launch of a new store which will help give Gloucester's retail appeal a big boost takes place this week.

TK Maxx will open its new outlet on the site of the former M&S building in Northgate Street on Thursday 23 March at 9am.

The store covers 20,000 sq feet. Developers Northgate No.1 Securities LLP bought the site and as well as TK Maxx it will be used for a gym and offices.TK Maxx has 350 stores in the UK and Ireland, offering designer labels at discounts of up to 60 per cent.

The prime position of the store in the city centre is important as it is on the main footfall route for shoppers. This is the year when the regeneration of Gloucester becomes a reality with some major schemes now progressing.

These include the transformation of the long-derelict former Kwik Save site off Black Dog Way into 80 affordable flats, the development of Baker's Quay at Gloucester Docks into apartments and restaurants and plans by Cityheart Ltd to create 295-bed student studio flats and town houses on the city's Barbican car park opposite Blackfriars.

Together with the development of the £14million flagship Next store at the Peel Centre, major landscaping as part of Project Pilgrim at Gloucester Cathedral, four new restaurants in Commercial Road overlooking Merchants Quay and the £7.5million redevelopment of Gloucester Bus Station, Punchline is confident that 2017 will be Gloucester's big year for progress.