A £300,000 refurbishment of the largest office building in Eastgate Street, Gloucester is said to have breathed new life into the area and created jobs for local people.

Eastgate House is home to several city business tenants which serve the public, including an NHS dentist and driving theory test centre. The NHS Let's Talk service is also soon to move into the building and now the new Hi-Light Café is attracting even more visitors and businesses into the area.

Owners of Loxton Developments, Mark and Belinda Roberts, bought Eastgate House 20 years ago to renovate the then vacant 37,000 sq ft run-down property.

The pair have now spent a further £300,000 refurbishing the building for their existing tenants, with much of the work done by Gloucester-based builders Rickards Interiors. Improvements include a new canopy, reception area and toilets.

A new vibrant café has also been created which employs local people including young Kickstarters - one of whom has already become full-time staff.

Mark Roberts said: "We have vastly improved the building which helps lifts the street and will hopefully encourage other local businesses to invest in their premises and make Eastgate Street a really lively destination. Eastgate House is well suited for organisations who are serving the public, especially now with the café and we still have space for new tenants."

The four storey building currently has more than 20 business tenants which include MyDentist, Healthy Lifestyles Gloucestershire, PIP Consultations Centre, Carbrey Housing. Victim Support has also just renewed its lease.

The Hi-Light Café serves tenants, clients and the public and sources produce locally - buying coffee from Gloucester-based specialist coffee roaster Ian Meredith of Ethical Addictions. The café is run by David Langford, who has been part of the Loxton Developments team for 12 years.

He said: "I'm really enjoying the recent developments, especially getting to train local Kickstarters; we get to train them, and we get to keep them. It's really fair and it works for them, and it works for us."

Belinda Roberts added: "We want to play our part in the street which we see as a place for something a little bit different. We hope to see more businesses and people moving into the area and can see it becoming haven for vibrant, small independents for people to enjoy."

Gloucester BID manager Emily Gibbon said: "We celebrate this improvement to Eastgate Street along with the positivity expressed by the owners who are so keen to be part of regeneration in the area. There are plans to offer a directory of businesses on Eastgate Street to show off the variety in the area. We're pleased that along with other parts of Gloucester, this development will boost the local economy."