Gloucester Prison is on the market again with offers being invited for the huge city centre site that is ripe and ready for redevelopment.

Commercial Property specialists JLL have listed a huge chunk of the former prison as being for sale - with existing planning permission in place for 150 new homes.

Current owners City and Country, who purchased the Prison one year after it was decommissioned in 2013, will retain ownership of some of the existing buildings.

But the move to sell the remainder of the site comes just a year after City and Country secured planning permission for the total overhaul and redevelopment of the historic site.

Gloucester City Council approved plans that would see the Grade II* and Grade II-listed former prison buildings converted into 38 new homes.

The same approved development saw permission granted for seven new buildings to be added to the site that would include 164 new residential units.

The scheme would also include 481 square metres of commercial and community space as well as car parking, cycle parking and gardens for both private and communal use.

Under the sale, the central core prison buildings will be retained by City and Country who are pressing ahead with the conversion.

The new owner would have permission to build "149 open market new build units."

The advert on JLL's website says: "The site is well positioned in an area undergoing significant regeneration.

"Planning permission for the redevelopment of the Grade II and II* Listed former prison on December 6, 2018.

"The scheme comprises of 202 dwellings of which 164 are new build with the remainder being conversion.

"The conversion elements of the scheme and two small new build blocks are to be retained by City and Country."

Gloucester Prison opened as a county gaol in 1792 and was extensively rebuilt in the 1840s and operated as a prison until 2013.

The gaol was built on the site of Gloucester's Norman castle which was demolished to allow for the 18th century construction.

The remains of the castle were found during archaeological digs required ahead of the latest development and are being retained and made into features of the new development.

In a statement released to Punchline, City and Country said: "It is important to note that the element of Gloucester Prison that is listed for sale is the opportunity to build 149 new homes. 

"City and Country has a distinguished track record of restoring and converting historic buildings, which is why the listed buildings at the prison will remain in our ownership. 

"We have been clear since we acquired the prison that we might look to secure a development partner who has the expertise to deliver the new homes that form part of our approved scheme. 

"Doing so will allow us to take a significant step forward with this exciting regeneration project that is set to breathe new life into the area."