Plans for the regeneration of a gateway area of Coleford are moving forward apace.

Forest of Dean District Council is hosting a briefing on August 30 relating to concept design proposals for Lawnstone Square in the Gloucestershire town's High Street.

Simon Brown, an architect from Sustain-By-Design, will be presenting design proposals for a new mixed-use development on the former Lawnstone House, bungalow and annex site.

Simon has been appointed by the Forest of Dean District Council to prepare a design for this prominent 'gateway' position to the town centre.

This event will mark the start of a community consultation process that will begin with sketch proposals inviting public comment and lead to a planning application submission in November.

The new Lawnstone Square development has the following aims:

* Provide a regeneration stimulus to Coleford and the district

* Provide a mix of affordable and open market sale housing

* Achieve quality design with the equivalent of Code for Sustainable Homes code 4

* Provide rented work/retail space for small business start-ups

* Provide an attractive public open space

* Maximise possible revenue streams to the council

Coleford deputy mayor Barry Thompson said the project formed a key part of plans to regenerate towns in the Forest of Dean.

He said: "We've got to reinvent ourselves business wise, tourist wise and resident wise and believe in ourselves a little bit.

"We are looking forward to hearing what the district council are planning to do with it."

Coleford town and district councillor Carole Allaway-Martin said: "I think people are really excited about it. The real excitement will be in the detail."

Lawnstone House was previously occupied by the district council but it was vacated some years ago.