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'Teething problems' as £107m scheme behind schedule

Carmelo Garcia
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Gloucester City Council The Forum in Gloucester viewed from a rooftop with chairs and tables. The Forum is a large, modern building with red coloured cladding and a glass walkway which connects it to another part of the building, which is brown brick.Gloucester City Council
The Forum in Gloucester will offer office and retail space, a hotel, restaurants and a rooftop bar

A £107m regeneration project has faced unexpected "teething problems" and will open later than anticipated, a city council has said.

The Forum, part of Gloucester's King's Quarter development, is designed to provide 135,000 sq ft (12,500 sq m) of office space, retail space, restaurants, a Hotel Indigo, rooftop bar, and multi-storey car park.

Journalists invited to the site in October were told The Forum was "nearing completion".

But Declan Wilson, Gloucester City Council's deputy leader and resources cabinet member, told Monday's overview and scrutiny committee meeting the development was now "behind schedule". City leaders have not said what has caused the delay.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the new landmark is considered key to Gloucester's regeneration and the project is being driven by the council and developer Reef Group.

At Monday's meeting, chairman Andrew Gravells asked about the financial situation of The Forum.

"Is it working out as it was expected to, in terms of financial contributions and developer contributions?" he said.

Mr Wilson confirmed there had been issues with the project.

"All I can say about that is it's behind schedule which is causing us a problem," he said.

"But as regards lettings etc, it's going better than expected. It's like all big projects. They are never quite complete to the date you are expecting to.

"As regards The Forum itself, we would have liked to have been able to be in a position to open it sooner than will be the case.

"There are teething problems."

LDRS The Forum in Gloucester as seen from the railway station side of Bruton Way, opposite Gloucester Transport Hub. The Forum is a red brick modern building which has a glass walkway linking to another part of the building. Gloucester Cathedral can be seen in the distance, underneath the walkway.LDRS
Despite the opening of The Forum being delayed, lettings are "going better than expected", Mr Wilson said

Mr Wilson added he was did not know how much more he could say about the issues.

Mr Gravells wanted to ask another question but was unsure if he was allowed to.

The monitoring officer asked what it was and whether it was commercially sensitive and Mr Gravells said he was advised to ask his question in writing.

"The word is snagging. I think I can say that," Mr Wilson said.

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