The next phase of the £7million 270 Climbing Park development is underway with a Gloucestershire company appointed to carry out the work.

Root Construction has won the contract to build the children's bouldering area, changing rooms, offices, commercial space and a cafe area.

Work is already underway and is expected to be completed in time for an October launch alongside the main bouldering gym.

Meanwhile Karna Design based in Pontyclun in Wales has been appointed to design and build the entrance, reception and cafe counters.

"Happy to announce that we have been awarded the contract for the refurbishment and alterations of the Bentham country club which is now the 270 Climbing Park," wrote Cheltenham-based Root Construction on its Facebook page.

The news comes after CROE Architects and Zesta Planning secured planning permission from Tewkesbury Borough Council in May for the next phase of the project.

It includes a climbing centre building, replacement multi-use dome, high rope with zip line course and ancillary guest accommodation.

It altered the design and arrangement of the various buildings from its original permission of the site to help reduce their footprint and volume.

Two "highly visible" white PVC domes have already been removed from the site and will be replaced with two new buildings that are more sympathetic to the surrounding countryside.

The original club building from the 1990s will remain and be refurbished.

"We plan to renovate the existing building to include a café, facilities and children's bouldering area, while two separate buildings provide the bouldering and climbing centres," said CROE in a LinkedIn post.

In May The Warehouse climbing centre also moved out of its Parliament Street building in Gloucester to relocate to the new 270 Climbing Park. Its former Gloucester Docks base is now on the market for £1.2million.

It is owned by David Stevens, who is also director of 270 Climbing Park and previously co-owned the Cheltenham-based Paragon Laundry business.

He first announced plans to transform the former Bentham Country Club into a world-class climbing park in February 2019 and initial planning permission was granted in April 2021.

The six-acre site is being developed in phases and once complete will boast activities for all ages and abilities and up to 60 jobs.

Phase one was opened in May 2023  and includes a six-tier high ropes course and 22m tall activity tower, with jumps and ziplines. The whole course is one of the highest in Europe, with 60 challenging obstacles.

Phase two is expected to be completed by autumn work has started on the bouldering areas.

A post on 270 Climbing Park Facebook page said: "Due to all the setbacks we've experienced throughout the project we've been loath to make promises on deadlines just for them to become distant memories.

"However, with development work recently gathering pace it feels like things are finally starting to happen and we realise that it might raise a few questions so we wanted to give you a quick update on the expected timelines."

The smallest B1 expected to open this month for private groups and training purposes and for adhoc sessions over the summer.

Foundations for the main 1,000m2 bouldering gym B2 have also been completed and steelworks are due to start soon.

It is due to open in October and in addition to the indoor walls, will feature an outside wall, fun climbing zone and a dedicated climbing area for groups.

The final phase will be the huge 2,500m2 main climbing arena which is still being designed and will include 16-metre high walls, speed-climbing walls and 600 possible climbing routes.

Building work is expected to start in the autumn and it is due to open in early 2025.

The project has been part funded and supported by The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, LEADER Funding Programme and Forest and Tewkesbury Borough LEADER.