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The Forum in Gloucester named best commercial property

The Forum in Gloucester named best commercial property

As businesses across the South West adapt to new hybrid working models, Gloucester’s £107 million Forum development is becoming the region’s go-to destination for modern, flexible workspaces.

Led by Gloucester City Council in partnership with Reef + Partners, Forum is redefining what office life can look like in a post-pandemic world—offering sustainable, high-spec environments tailored to innovation, wellbeing and collaboration.

The first major tenant to occupy the space is Fasthosts, the internet services and web hosting provider, which relocated its 250-strong team to Forum in December 2024. The company now occupies all 19,000 sq ft of No 2 Cathedral Walk, spanning five floors.

The firm has seen office attendance rise since the move, with staff embracing the mix of hot-desking, breakout areas, soundproof booths, and wellness features including multi-faith rooms, kitchenettes on every floor, and a communal kitchen and breakfast area on the top floor. To further foster a positive culture, the company also runs gaming sessions, art nights and lunch clubs.

With flexible work models now the norm, 88% of UK workers were required to attend the office at least part-time in 2024, Forum’s blend of design and functionality positions it as a hub for forward-thinking businesses.

Forum offers:

  • Grade A office floorplates from 3,000 to 15,000 sq ft, with full-height windows and rooftop terraces
  • Sustainability credentials including a BREEAM Excellent rating and net-zero carbon operation
  • South West’s largest living wall, a 600 sq m vertical garden with 48,000 plants
  • On-site amenities including Hotel Indigo, a 393-space Q-Park with 39 EV chargers, and Tesco Express
  • Media façade: a 17m high LED lighting feature, a first for the city
  • Seamless connectivity via Gloucester’s transport hub, including a new £6.4 million bus station and proximity to the train station

Alongside its commercial offering, Forum includes Whitefriars, a residential development of 19 award-winning energy-efficient apartments, with another 24 units planned for completion by 2027.

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