What Gloucestershire scheme is more ambitious and having more impact than the Golden Valley Development?
It’s not the Golden Valley Development that’s having the most impact on business activity in Gloucestershire it's The Forum, says Dorian Wragg of Bruton Knowles.
Dear readers,
Welcome to Friday’s edition of The Raikes Journal.
The main story takes a look at a Gloucester City Council and Reef Group’s The Forum development claimed to be having more impact on business investment in Gloucestershire than the Golden Valley Development, for a fraction of the cost. At least that’s what one of the county’s leading property experts, Dorian Wragg, told us.
The biggest factor that puts it way out ahead is that it’s actually been built. Wragg talks about a catalytic effect of the new city centre landmark, home to a four-star hotel and rooftop bar, 399-space car park for shoppers and visitors to the city and more than 106,000 square feet of office space.
Kurt Wyman, of Kurt Wyman Surveyors, which is based in Gloucester, was also keen to champion the development. The verdict was the same. The Forum is quality and, as Wyman puts it, quality sells.
We also take a look at Gloucestershire College’s exciting news about a second Cheltenham Campus on the former University of Gloucestershire Hardwicke Campus site and just what that could do for its bottom line.
There’s news of the sale of a county-based wine company with sales in excess of £64m and a strong set of results for one of our niche but highly prized manufacturing and engineering firms, AIS.
Have a great weekend.
Best regards,
Editor | 07956 926061 | LinkedIn: Andrew Merrell | andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk
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How the expansion of Gloucestershire College could net it millions more annually
Gloucestershire College continues to show its entrepreneurial spurs and willingness to invest to deliver what the county and the country wants - this week announcing a second campus in Cheltenham.
The college, which already has a campus off Princess Elizabeth Way, as well as in Gloucester and Cinderford, has revealed it will open another base in the University of Gloucestershire’s former Hardwick Campus building across the other side of the town.
It’s a deal that struck with the new owner of the building, county-based MF Freeman Group, and which required the expertise of Gloucester-based property experts Bruton Knowles and HCR Law, which has offices in Cheltenham.
Luke Freeman, CEO of the M F Freeman Group, said: “Our vision is a vibrant living and education campus which works well with the local community.”
The college didn’t put the following information in wider release, but it told Raikes the deal was in the region of seven figures and that it was a move would allow it to accommodate 90 more students from 26 September and 400 more in the longer term.
Bearing in mind further education colleges get between £5,000 and £8,000 for each student they can accommodate, it sounds like good business. Multiple that by 400 and you get anywhere between £2 million and £3.2m extra annually.
And the investment is creating jobs too - in the region of 20 new roles from Sept 26 growing to 50-plus once full capacity.
According to the college the expansion will “significantly strengthen Gloucestershire College’s response to the priorities set out in Gloucestershire County Council’s One Plan for Children and Young People in Gloucestershire 2024–2030, further cementing the college’s commitment to local young people”.
The plan calls for “stronger transition pathways into further education, better guidance and support into adulthood, and a provision model that is more accessible for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)”.
Matthew Burgess, principal and CEO of the college, said: “We are confident that this investment will deliver tangible benefits for local young people.
“Our new campus will provide a modern, accessible learning environment, with an initial focus on our First Steps provision.
“These supportive, entry-level programmes help young people build confidence, develop essential English, maths and digital skills, as well as explore future study or career options in a friendly and flexible environment.
“With our tailored programmes and strong links with local employers and support services, this expanded provision will help more Cheltenham residents overcome barriers, reengage with learning, and progress into positive, sustainable destinations.”
Your briefing notes…
As we celebrate the impact of the city council’s The Forum project (see our main story below) - which has seen the redevelopment of Gloucester’s former bus station - the scheme came under scrutiny from city councillors this week. They wanted to know why, out of the £115.1m total cost, £40m of the money spent did not even go on construction. More here.
It’s creating 30 jobs and is due to open next month in the centre of Gloucester. Coro Lounge, which is busily putting the finishing touches to its transformation of its new King’s Square home as it prepares to open on Thursday 7 May. This is the latest venue from the pub chain Loungers, which will breath new life into the former Chambers pub.
A leading wine distributor based in Cheltenham, with a turnover in excess of £64m, has been sold. Off-Piste Wines, founded by Ant Fairbank and Paul Letheren in 2007, has grown into one of the UK’s favourite suppliers. After an original investment by BGF (Business Growth Fund) in 2019 the partnership has come to an end - with the sale of the business to one of the largest family-owned ‘world wine’ groups, Terold Invest SL. More here.
It won’t be a household name for most of us, but if you work in a sector where subsea safety is a priority, in defence, offshore wind, marine, chemicals, power, ports and harbours, electric vehicles, then it’s a different story. Advanced Innergy Holdings (AIS), is a global leader in the engineering and manufacture of insulation materials that deliver vital safety barriers in all kinds of sectors - from protecting you should your electric car catch fire to providing blast-resistant materials for our Royal Navy vessels. Business is red hot for the firm with turnover passing £150m. More here.
Things to do this weekend…
Today (Friday)
🎭 Starting tonight and stretching over the whole long weekend. Only in Stroud - The Sub Rooms helps the town stage its Weekend Folklore Festival in venues around Stroud, otherwise known as NeoAncients - three days of music, talks, books, art, dance and more. More here.
🎶 Also all weekend - The Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2026 is in full swing until Monday, May 4, 2026.
Saturday:
⚽ Cheltenham Town FC play Colchester United at home. KO 3pm.
Monday:
⚽ Gloucester City FC play Farnham Town away. KO 3pm.
(🏉In case you were wondering about Gloucester Rugby - they play Sale Sharks on 8 May at 6.45 at Kingsholm Stadium)
What Gloucestershire scheme is more ambitious and having more impact than the Golden Valley Development?
Two local authority-led projects championed to the hilt, but it’s not the Golden Valley Development that’s having the most impact on business activity in Gloucestershire apparently.
By Andrew Merrell.
The biggest noise about the biggest project in the county would make you think the £1blln Golden Valley Development is the most transformational to hit the county in our lifetime, and that’s where we should be focusing.
But that’s if and when.
In the here and now, it seems the most catalytic, transformative project is down the other end of the Golden Valley, cost a fraction of the price and is helping a long down-trodden city shed its skin - and step out with a completely new look.
Yes, that place is Gloucester.
“If you ask anyone which project is having the most impact and people will say The Golden Valley Development,” said Dorian Wragg, of property experts Bruton Knowles.
“That’s not the case. Arguably the most ambitious, certainly the one that’s being delivered currently, is actually The Forum. Its impact on Gloucester is already apparent.
“It’s already been built and it is already creating significant positive change.”
Admittedly, Wragg has a vested interest in The Forum (he’s one of the agents), but he is also an expert in commercial property, has watched the city for a long time now, and when he starts reeling off the evidence, it’s hard not to be won over.
And just for balance, we spoke to anther independent property expert too, Kurt Wyman of Kurt Wyman of Kurt Wyman Surveyors. What he said was equally enthusiastic.
