Kingswood ‘thriving’ - says council leader after town centre improvements

A Skills Hub has opened in the Kings Chase Shopping Centre
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Kingswood is ‘thriving’, according to the leader of South Gloucestershire Council as the authority announced that the Kings Chase Shopping Centre is now fully occupied.

The shopping centre was bought by the council in 2021, and forms part of its ‘masterplan’ which will also see work start on pedestrianising part of Regent Street this year.

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Improvements have been made to the shopping centre and the Tabernacle has been restored, the authority said. Future plans, as part of the masterplan, will also see better signage and money spent on Kingswood Park.

Council leader Toby Savage said: “Kingswood is thriving and the plans we have produced alongside local people and businesses will ensure that it continues to do so into the future.

“Investing in infrastructure and services is key to supporting everyone in Kingswood to have access to learning and development opportunities, as well as employment, shopping, cultural and leisure facilities, which is what underpins our masterplan for the area.”

He added: “I am delighted that since we have taken ownership of the shopping centre we have been able to use our position as the landlord to promote the business and we are now using the space to help the whole community, as well as to generate revenue to support our council budgets, with all units now occupied.”

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The latest addition to the shopping centre is a skills hub designed to help local people develop skills and qualifications to get into employment or progress their careers.

It will also provide space for workshops, lectures and career coaching.

Cllrs Savage, Williams and Burton with members of South Gloucestershire Council’s Community Learning & Skills team outside the new Skills HubCllrs Savage, Williams and Burton with members of South Gloucestershire Council’s Community Learning & Skills team outside the new Skills Hub
Cllrs Savage, Williams and Burton with members of South Gloucestershire Council’s Community Learning & Skills team outside the new Skills Hub

The optimism from the council leader comes despite recent closures in the High Street, including Shaws and Zahringer. However, council leaders hope the town’s masterplan will continue to improve the area’s fortunes.

They include the pedestrianisation of Regent Street (east), which it is said will improve air quality and footfall as well as providing an attractive place to visit.

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The area would be along Regent Street from Moravian Road, by Chasers nightclub and Barclays Bank, to Park Road. A final design will be unvieled this Spring before work is set to start at the end of this year.

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