David Jones, managing director of Cheltenham-based planning consultants Evans Jones, joined Punchline-Gloucester.com editor Mark Owen for a walkabout of Gloucester city centre.

He said: "We've looked over the last four or five years at how town and city centres can regenerate and I thought it would be worth a revisit of Gloucester.

"We've looked at Cheltenham ice rink,  the Stroud market  and Gloucester Quays  and the Gloucester Food Dock , all of which contribute to the daytime and night time economy."

With housing in such short supply, David, who was born and brought up in Gloucester, can see the potential for creating HMOs - houses of multiple occupancy - in some of the upper floors above the city centre's retail and commercial properties.

He points to a scheme that Gloucester construction firm Elijahwillow Ltd, owned by Dan Ponting, has just finished renovating 80 Westgate Street, the former Sugar Celebrations shop, in Gloucester.

Previously a shop with offices above it, the Grade II listed building is now a small retail space, with six high-end boutique style rooms and a large communal space for city centre living.

"It's a fantastic scheme," said David. "If there's an example of how to do an HMO well, that is it."

"High quality HMOs help to dispel some of the negative myths which HMOs have traditionally had.  Bringing activity back into town centres can really help the nighttime economy and help people feel safer when walking the streets at night.

"People can feel a little bit anxious if an area is too quiet so if you've got light and activity above ground floor level it really helps make people feel a lot safer and make the town centre somewhere where people want to go. 

Repurposing upper floors is not without its difficulties - high construction costs, working in older buildings and difficult access all conspire against upper floors being converted. However, the recent schemes demonstrate that viable uses can be created.

"These should be celebrated, encouraging other landowners to consider how they can better use often empty space above ground floor commercial spaces.

"HMOs were traditionally seen as at the lower end of the accommodation market and have had a bad rap. Many local authorities actively discourage them. Gloucester is reasonably supportive.

"But it's not all about HMOs - we need other activities including offices, hotels, educatiion, leisure, care, all contrubuting to a rich mix of complementary uses driving footfall. The high street has to reinvent itself "

Which brings us onto the potential impact of two major city centre developments - The Forum and the new University building within the old Debenhams.

David added: "The University will bring much more footfall into the city centre. Coupled with The Forum redevelopment in Gloucester city centre offers a range of activities from hotels to leisure to flats to offices all within what was an unloved and dated car park and bus depot site. The new Forum development is going to be a game changer. 

"I'm really looking forward to seeing in the coming years what impact that has on regenerating the wider city centre. Gloucester has a long way to go, but this is a great start, reversing decades of decline.

"The funding for The Forum combines substantial public investment from Gloucester City Council and central government, together with private investment from the Reef Group, all seeking to create a modern digitial and technology quarter in the heart of Gloucester. Without this public/private partnership this type of major innter city redevelopment simply won't work.

"I'm passionate about seeing Gloucester turn the corner and become a thriving city centre again."