King’s Quarter, Northgate Street, Gloucester
Located at Plot 1, this project forms part of the £104 million landmark King’s Quarter development and is part of the Gloucester city regeneration programme, which also features the iconic Forum building.
On the brownfield site, former Stoate & Bishop print works, Aqua Construction are constructing an impressive five-storey apartment building with 25 units for social rent including some retail space on the ground floor.
The 16 two-bed and nine one-bed flats are Aqua’s 21st project in partnership with Gloucester City Homes. Over the years, the company has delivered over 180 homes for the housing association.
With over 25 trades working on site every day, the company is proud that over 90% are either local labour or local suppliers to the project from across Gloucestershire.
Northgate Street is one of the four original Roman streets in Gloucester and remains the truest of all four gate streets to its ancient form, although the streetscape has changed down the centuries.
Aqua Construction acquired the land through Ash & Co Chartered Surveyors.
The site holds significant historic importance and involved working in close partnership with the City Archaeologist, archaeological consultants Cotswold Archaeology of Cirencester and structural engineering firm, O’Brien & Price (Stroud), to develop an engineering solution to protect the medieval and Roman remains. A specialist piling rig, of which only two exist in Europe, was brought in to excavate the piled foundations and preserve the medieval and Roman assets that lay beneath the site.
The steel frame building was supplied by General Services Fabrications of Gloucester. HD Bricklaying of Matson were the bricklaying contractor.
The stylish gold standing seam cladding which forms a major feature of the building is being supplied and fitted by Q&M Roofing of Brockworth and sits below the eco-green roof which delivers environmental benefits.
Other contractors working on the project include Slatter Electrical of Twyning, TJP Heating & Plumbing; of Worcester and QBD Glazing of Cheltenham.
Jason Wasley, Managing Director of Aqua Construction, said: “It is fantastic to work on such a key building central to the regeneration of the city. All the team are proud ‘to be involved and it highlights how far we have come as a company to be involved in such a prestigious project.
“It’s not been easy, as it’s a very technical build from the foundation design working around archaeological remains on site, right through to designing the steel frame.”
Guy Stenson, Chief Executive of Gloucester City Homes, recently said: “Our new Northgate development will create quality new social rent homes, jobs for local people and investment in the city.
“Every one of us, regardless of our circumstances and situation deserves a place we can be proud to call home, a home we can afford to heat, where we feel safe and where we can put down roots and live our best lives.
“That’s why we are passionate at GCH about playing our role to tackle the housing crisis and bring quality, affordable new homes to Gloucester.”
The development was completed in March 2024.