Transformation of landmark Cheltenham town centre building the Quadrangle has now begun, with contractors moving onto the site.

Scaffolding in the courtyard of the former retail and offices buildings has started to go up, with the external envelope scaffolding due to be finished in seven weeks.

Planning permission was originally granted back in April 2018, while a revised design proposal for the plaza area was submitted in July and is awaiting feedback.

The new design will see the Quadrangle, which sits on the corner of Cheltenham's Imperial Square and Promenade, sensitively re-imagined to create contemporary commercial space with heritage at its heart.

This will include four storeys of premium office space which will help meet the needs of the town's vibrant business community.

Along with ground floor retail and restaurant space, the exciting addition of a discreet roof-top restaurant will give diners views across the tree tops of Montpellier.

"The complete refurbishment project is a very exciting addition to the town centre and once finished, will bring sophisticated commercial and leisure space to Cheltenham," said Dan Basey from AWW Architects.

"If approved, the new plaza design will only enhance the proposals, helping to improve the building's relationship with both Imperial Square Gardens and Promenade.

"We have also been in discussion with groups like Art in the Park to consider how their future exhibitions could be accommodated, this will ensure that groups already operating in the town will be able to benefit from the works proposed."

Tim Smith from commercial agents, John Ryde, said: "The newly designed Quadrangle will offer premium quality office accommodation together with ground floor restaurant/café premises.

"It will be sought after by a number of businesses with several registrations of interest already made for both the offices and the restaurant units."

Marc Bayley, director of Beard Construction said: "We are immensely proud to have been awarded this very prestigious refurbishment project. When successfully completed, this will become one of the most desirable office and retail locations in the centre of Cheltenham."

Beard describes itself as an award-winning, £150 million turnover construction company which operates across the South of England.

It has offices in Oxford, Swindon, Bristol and Guildford and undertakes design and build, new build, restoration and refurbishment on a range of projects, including complex projects, up to £20.