Demolition work completed at Gloucester Bus Station

Gloucester’s new bus station hub is continuing to take shape this month as demolition of buildings has been completed, the archaeological dig has finished and the ground investigation has started.

Gloucester City Council is making great progress on the build of its new bus station hub in the city centre. Now the demolition and archaeology has been completed the contractor can start to prepare the ground for investigation and use a drilling rig to create deep boreholes.

Due to its history the ground must be fully investigated before Kier, the contracted builder, can start to build on site. These investigations are now underway. During the first half of the last century the area was used as a cattle market and results from the archaeological dig show that it was also likely to have been a flood bank in the 3rd to 4th century AD.

Utility companies have also begun to draw up plans on how they’ll divert services ahead of the construction phase.

Cllr Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The new bus station hub is an exciting but complex project.  We have to work closely with utility companies, the county council and our contractors to make sure that any disruption is limited and the project runs smoothly.”

“We’re making great process so far and I’m excited about seeing the next stage take shape.  The regeneration of our city centre is a key priority for the city council and the bus station is a hugely symbolic part of this.”

The city council secured £6.4 million of grant funding from central government through GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership and Gloucestershire Local Transport Board towards the cost of building the new bus station. Plans for the new hub include a modern fully enclosed concourse, 12 bus bays, a manned ticket office, electronic timetable displays, a new cafe and CCTV.

Whilst the construction work is being carried out, the existing bus station will remain fully functioning and existing bus routes and stops are not yet expected to change.

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk