Forum reveals a county rich in investment opportunities

Commercial property deals set to transform the centre of Gloucester are happening; Gloucestershire Property Forum reveals a county ripe for investment that could deliver a bright economic future.

Dear reader,

I hope you’ve had a great week.

Monday’s edition of The Raikes Journal did particularly well in terms of audience reach. On the site and on social media it was looked at by thousands. It was the edition in which we covered the Big Sleep Out that helps fund the work of the CCP, the Cheltenham charity dedicated to supporting community in the town and beyond.

It was a story that quickly became more than just some words about an annual fundraising event, as the extent of the passion, power of the community and the collaborations happening as a result of support for the CCP were revealed.

You can read that story here.

As we’ve been gearing up for a week off, we skipped Thursday’s edition and jumped straight to today - a number of stories we hope prove of interest, not least a report on the most recent event under The Property Forum banner.

Why focus on that?

In the quest to deliver some feel good stories amidst a tough economic climate for many, the focus on Gloucestershire’s commercial property sector that is today’s lead story revealed a county with some reasons to be cheerful.

And revealed that the county is rich in investment opportunities that could deliver the potential to strengthen the economy here long term.

It was a pretty solid vote of confidence that growth and long-term stability is there to be had - if investors, entrepreneurs and businesses alike are given the right advice and encouragement.

Which I have to say sounded pretty positive from where I was sitting in the audience.

Another excellent event courtesy of Jo Bruce, of Your Voice Marketing, and ably chaired by the erudite David Jones, managing director of independent chartered surveyors and planning consultants Evans Jones.

I’m off work next week, which means Raikes is effectively closed for business. Have a great weekend. Oh, and because the main story features one of our Founding Partners, Willans solicitors, we’ve left the paywall off initially too!

Remember, for every person you refer to The Raikes Journal’s email service you get points towards a free membership allowing you to see beyond our paywalls. Please do sign up (free or otherwise), send the referral link to a friend or colleague, and help us grow.

Andrew Merrell (editor).

If you have a story, an issue, a news item, a charity or an interview you want us to write about or investigate, challenge the powers that be about, or want to learn about commercial opportunities or how to partner with us then please email me: andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk.

NB: We believe Raikes now publishes probably the best-read business-related email ‘newsletter’, pound for pound, in Gloucestershire.

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Willans LLP solicitors reveals new community partnership

For a second consecutive year, Willans LLP solicitors, a firm we are proud to say is one of the key founding partners that makes Raikes possible, will partner with Pride in Cheltenham and Pride in Gloucestershire.

The Cheltenham law firm’s support of both events, which celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, will include sponsorship of the main stage at the spa town’s 2025 event in Imperial Gardens on Saturday 17 May.

As well as a full line-up of music acts, Pride in Cheltenham will see the return of the Pride dog show, as well as its traditional march through the streets of Cheltenham town centre to celebrate and promote self-acceptance and equality for all.

Willans will host a stand at the event with lawyers from the firm on hand to discuss issues including parental responsibility, child arrangements in same-sex marriages, cohabitation agreements and wills.

Pride in Gloucestershire’s events director and trustee, Joseph-James Picknell said: “We are delighted to welcome Willans on board once again as partners of Pride in Cheltenham and Pride in Gloucestershire.

“It’s really important for us to have the support of local businesses and particularly those who share our passion for raising awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and promoting inclusivity across our county.”

Bridget Redmond, Willans’ managing partner, said: “Equality and inclusion are values that resonate with us as lawyers and as a business. We are looking forward to taking part in this celebration and to meeting clients old and new.”

Tom O’Riordan, partner in our wills, trusts & probate team and LGBTQ+ champion, said: “As an LGBTQ+ lawyer, I feel very privileged to work for a firm that actively demonstrates its allegiance with the community.

“Not only does Pride in Cheltenham help to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, but it also advocates everybody’s right to live their life with equal opportunities and express themselves and their unique identity.”

Pride in Gloucestershire returns to Gloucester Park in Gloucester on Saturday 13 September.

In the week leading up to that event, Willans lawyers will attend the Pride in Gloucestershire HUB where they will be happy to take questions and offer support to parents of LGBTQ+ children, as well as LGBTQ+ parents on any legal matters or issues they may be facing. On the day, the firm will also have a stand at Gloucester Park and one of its solicitors will join a panel of speakers at the event.

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Council sells its city centre office

A “well-known local business” has had an offer accepted to buy Gloucester City Council’s offices on Southgate Street. The sale looks set to be agreed next week (commencing 7 April) and civic chiefs are expected to approve the freehold sale of former Gateway offices at 92-96 Westgate Street, until recently home of the council’s customer services. The building was advertised on the open market with a guide price in the region of between £600,000 and £700,000 through a sale by private treaty. The highest bid of £610,000 was accepted. The council has not yet revealed the preferred bidder, but has confirmed it is a “well known local business”. (Thanks to Carmolo Garcia, BBC local Government Reporter for Gloucestershire).

🤦🏽‍♂️🛹Still on the subject of Gloucester City Council. The local authority has had to pay back £7,500 in developers’ contributions, which could have gone towards a skate park, back to Barratt Homes. The local authority failed to spend all of the £105,000 it received linked to a 49 homes planning application in Quedgeley after the land off the Bristol Road was approved for development in 2013. The section 106 agreement included £75,000 in contributions for formal sports facilities and £30,000 towards play areas. Economic growth officer Nana Pierre blamed a combination of reasons including staffing issues and a cyber incident. (Thanks to Carmolo Garcia, BBC local Government Reporter for Gloucestershire).

🍦 The future of Gloucester as the “home of Wall’s ice cream”, which employs 500 staff directly, has been secured as city chiefs approved plans for a “multi-million pound” upgrade of the firm’s facilities. Unilever UK, which owns the Wall’s ice cream brand, has been granted permission for new buildings and a replacement mix plant facility at their site off Corinium Avenue, Barnwood. The proposals were approved unanimously by Gloucester City Council on April 1. The plans will not lead to extra jobs, but will secure Walls’ long-term future, the planning committee was told.

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* The Raikes Journal is a community interest company. Everything you read by us is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: QuoLux, Willans LLP, Gloucestershire College, Merrell People and Randall & Payne, our sponsors Hartpury University and Hartpury College, our Founding Members and wonderful paying subscribers.

If you upgrade to paid you’ll be part of this CIC too. We are dedicated to delivering quality journalism for Gloucestershire, to championing the county, in particular its businesses, charities, education and training providers, and to helping create an even stronger community. If you upgrade to paid you will be able to see past the paywalls often put on our second and third email editions of the week, that lock all our archive after two weeks and lock our rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire series. You will be able to comment on our stories too.

You can sign up to receive your two extra editions a week and see past all our paywalls for just £2.30 a week - or £1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once. Or go all in and become one of our Founding Partners or Founding Members!

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Forum reveals a county rich in investment opportunities

Commercial property deals set to transform the centre of Gloucester are happening; Gloucestershire Property Forum reveals a county ripe for investment that could deliver a bright economic future.

Details revealed by Dorian Wragg as the latest event by The Property Forum wrapped up could not have been better timed for an event that set out to explore the potential of the county’s commercial property market and its opportunities.

Had anyone been in the room and demanded proof, perhaps cynically thinking the panel of experts were bound to be there talking it up, they got it when Wragg responded to a question in the audience.

“Was there any news on whether some of the neglected buildings close to the brand new Forum development in Gloucester city centre would ever be tackled too?”

Chairman in charge of proceedings, David Jones, MD of Evans Jones, turned to Wragg, partner and head of commercial at property experts Bruton Knowles, who promptly reeled off a string of pending announcements about those very buildings.