This week the first of the hoardings were erected at the current bus station and more will follow throughout the coming weeks.

Once all the hoardings are in place the first spade will hit the ground and shape to the new hub can start to form. The current bus station café will be brought down, as it has already been replaced with a temporary kiosk café, the office blocks and Grosvenor House will be demolished and the public toilets will be replaced with temporary ones.

Gloucester City Council has already worked with the Furniture Recycling Project to find them new premises which has also allowed works to begin.

With funding from central government as part of its ‘Growth Deal’, GFirst LEP and Gloucestershire Local Transport Board, the city council is investing £7.5million into the redevelopment of 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 expected to change.

The next stages of shaping the future bus station include asbestos removal, an archaeological dig and diversion of underground sewers and mains.

Cllr Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council, said; “I’m very excited to start the work on the new bus station. The existing bus station has been a blot on Gloucester’s landscape for too long and now the work on the new one has begun.

“Our new bus station will look impressive and modern, providing a stylish welcome to all those entering Gloucester through it.”