Gloucester Debenhams bought by university
The leader of the City Council has called it "fantastic news"
The University of Gloucestershire has bought the Debenhams building in Gloucester City Centre.
The University has announced the news today saying the five storey building will become a new campus for teaching and learning.
It was first built in the 1930s and has housed Debenhams since the 70s. The fee for which the university bought it has not been revealed.
It all comes after the announcement earlier this year that the department store would close, with the business entering administration for the second time.
The university says it will review which courses should be based at the building, with nursing and allied health among those on the shortlist, while the ground floor level could be split between public and university use.
"The redevelopment of the building will represent a further big step forward in the wider regeneration of that part of the city of Gloucester," a statement from the university reads.
"Kings Square is currently being redeveloped by the City Council.
"‘The Forum’ digital quarter development, being led by Gloucester City Council in partnership with Reef Group, will create a mixed-use new build development of office, hotel and residential space close by.
"The adjacent Kings House is being repurposed as a cultural hub, and new student accommodation was recently completed nearby at Blackfriars."
It is hoped the building could open to university students, at least in part, as soon as 2023.
Stephen Marston, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Gloucestershire, said: “The Debenhams building has a special place in the hearts of local people, and we’re delighted that our plans will help breathe new life and purpose into a place that is central to the city’s heritage.
"It is part of the University’s mission to support the growth and development of our community, economically, socially and culturally.
"By repurposing this iconic building into a new hub for learning, we can make a major contribution to creating a better future for our community."
Vice-Chancellor Marston adds the university has "ambitious plans" to grow its student numbers and the number of courses on offer and the purchase of the Debenhams building will help achieve that aim.
“We want to explore a range of potential partnerships for accommodating services of value to the public, taking advantage of this prime city centre location to offer local people access to services they value," he says.
"This is all part of the wider ambition, working with partners to bring new life and vibrancy to the high street.”
Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester, said: “This great good news will result in large numbers of University of Gloucestershire students getting vital skills in public sector courses like nursing and allied health courses in our city centre.
"I hope agreements will also soon be reached on partnerships, for example in learning and wellbeing on the ground and basement floors, open to all.*
Leader of Gloucester City Council Richard Cook has also called it fantastic news.
“These plans fit perfectly with our multi-million pound regeneration of the Kings Square as an events space and The Forum which will attract specialised digital and technology companies creating a thousand new jobs," he said.
“Combined with the transport hub and the refurbishment of the train station that is set to begin this year, our long-standing vision to regenerate and revitalise this part of the city is well on the way to becoming a reality.”