Delays to Gloucester Docks landmark sale and revamp explained
Gloucester City Council say they're currently in legal proceedings reliant on a successful planning application
The delays to the sale and redevelopment of a prominent Gloucester Docks landmark have been explained by city chiefs.
Gloucester City Council has been in the process of selling its former offices at Herbert, Kimberley and Philpotts (HKP).
The sale of HKP warehouses was approved by civic chiefs in 2023 – but it is reliant on the completion of a planning application for the site.
Gloucester City Council left the building in 2019 and the warehouses were earmarked for development.
It is unclear who the preferred bidder is and what the future use will be.
However, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands the site, which was previously planned to be turned into a hotel, could possibly be used to house students in future.
Andrew Hearne, head of place at the council, gave an update in response to a question from Conservative group leader Stephanie Chambers (C, Quedgeley Fieldcourt).
She asked for a full update on the sale of the grade II-listed building which was built in 1846 for corn merchant AH Phillpotts.
Mr Hearne told the cabinet meeting on September 10 that the council is still in legal proceedings to sell the site and that it is reliant on a successful planning application.
“The buyer in question has gone through a pre-application stage,” he said.
“They have feedback from the planning department.
“And, up until this point, they have now spent the last three months assessing the feedback that has come through the pre-app.”
He said there has been some positive engagement with him over the past four to five weeks over how to take the scheme forward.
“It is not an easy application to go through which is why the application has taken longer.
“Because of the complexity of the building, it’s a heritage building for one.
“So the design is slightly different. Plus the use and time to get to it is also complex.”
However, he said he is confident the positive communication on the site will continue.
“At this point in time, it’s going through the development planning process.”