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English Heritage confirms funding for North Range
refurbishment
16 July 2010
English Heritage has confirmed it is going ahead with works to
bring the North Range of Gloucester’s historic Blackfriars’ Priory
back into public use. Work is scheduled to begin in August.
English Heritage, the Government’s adviser for historic
environment and custodian of many historic monuments, including
Blackfriars Priory, will refurbish the Priory creating a new public
space and concert hall in the North and East Ranges. The major
funder of the work is the South West RDA, which is investing more
than £520,000 into the project, of which the total cost is in the
region of £700,000. The remaining funding will be provided by
English Heritage.
The North Range will become the heart of a new performing arts
centre and the project has already drawn large amounts of interest
from groups who are keen to use it.
Chris Foley, head of regeneration at the South West RDA said:
“This may turn out to be one of the South West RDA’s last
investments in Blackfriars, so the opening up to the wider public
of the ancient medieval Priory as a cultural venue is a pivotal
point in the wider regeneration of Blackfriars and Gloucester’s
city centre. The local community and visitors alike will benefit
from new uses in this historic and largely unknown building. This
will broaden Gloucester’s appeal to businesses and investors
considering locating and investing in the City.
Chris Oldershaw, Chief Executive of the GHURC, said: “With this
financial support confirmed, we are starting to talk seriously with
the investors which have already approached the GHURC informally
expressing their interest in the area.”
Chris Smith, West Territory Director for English Heritage, said:
"We are very pleased that after much hard work with our partners,
Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company and the South West
RDA, this project is now going ahead. Once completed, this will
make a valuable contribution to the regeneration in this part of
Gloucester. In fact this is the first part of the Masterplan for
Blackfriars to be implemented."
The Greater Blackfriars area of Gloucester is one of Gloucester
Heritage Urban Regeneration Company’s (GHURC’s) ‘Magnificent Seven’
sites leading the city’s regeneration and is the all-important link
between the City and the Docks.
Over the last four years substantial work has been done by
experts researching and recording the site’s heritage and in public
consultation to plan for the area’s regeneration, part of the
city’s £1 billion regeneration.
This is the second project to be confirmed at Blackfriars this
year. Demolition of the South West RDA’s former ‘Clutch Clinic’,
next to the East Range, is now happening to make way for the UK’s
first ever language immersion centre. The project is being run by
Gloucestershire County Council with a £5 million grant from the
Department for Children Schools and Families and additional funding
from the South West RDA. The centre will open by September
2011.
By September this year, more than £9 million will have been
committed or invested in Blackfriars, and a further £8 million in
the Docks and in environmental works linking the two areas.
Notes on Blackfriars
The historic Priory is only part of the Great Blackfriars area
of the city, which actually spreads across 5 acres and is bordered
by the River Severn, Westgate Street, Southgate Street and
Commercial Road and has some of the best, and worst, examples of
Gloucester’s history lying within it. The historic, but largely
hidden, Fleece Hotel on Westgate Street, Gloucester Prison, the
1960s County Council offices, the BT building, NCP car park on
Longsmith Street and two unsurfaced car parks also lie within the
area. Alney Island, between the River Severn and the new South West
Bypass, is also part of this diverse area.
Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company (GHURC) Ltd
The GHURC area includes 33 ancient monuments, 490 listed
buildings, including 37 Grade 1 and 51 Grade II* listed and 36
buildings on the ‘At Risk’ register. A quarter of the Gloucester
Heritage URC area, 88 hectares, is covered by conservation area
designations.
The GHURC 10-year plan is based on the regeneration of seven key
sites within the City centre. Nicknamed the ‘Magnificent Seven’,
these are: Gloucester Docks, Gloucester Quays, The Railway
Triangle, King’s Square, Greyfriars, Blackfriars/Westgate Quay and
The Canal Corridor. Alongside these projects, Gloucester Heritage
URC is planning an integrated public realm and public art strategy
linking together the key developments.
www.gloucesterurc.co.uk/