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Canal Corridor
Unlocking the south of the city.
The Canal Corridor provides an important opportunity for a range of employment based regeneration projects, especially for those businesses seeking to relocate or expand within the Gloucester Heritage URC area.
It also offers attractive residential development sites overlooking the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal that will help meet the growing need for family and affordable housing close to the city centre.
The completion of the South West By-pass will massively improve the southern approaches to Gloucester and open up large areas of land in the city centre and the Canal Corridor for redevelopment.
Site description
The Canal Corridor is situated on both sides of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, linking Gloucester Quays to the southern boundary of the city, and Junction 12 of the M5 motorway. The Bristol Road side of the canal contains a range of mainly poor quality industrial, retail and commercial units and the road is heavily congested. The west bank of the canal carries the South West By-pass, accessed by a major new bridge at its southern end, where the road crosses open farmland.
Outputs
- 22 ha of brownfield land reclaimed
- 450 new homes
- 1,250 new jobs
- 47,000 sq m commercial floorspace
- £100m private sector leverage
A concerted effort should be made to clear and tidy up the land at the back of the various businesses alongside Bristol Road etc. that back out onto the canal. What with canal boat trips and predicted increase in boat traffic along this stretch of canal, this does not create a great impression for the visitors to this city. With the first phase of the quays developments opening spring next year, these visitor numbers can only increase and something done prior. Where does the responsibility lie with? Does this land belong to British Waterways or the adjoining business?
Posted on 7/May/2008