The Forum, Gloucester – championing the city as a place to invest
We’re proud of our work with partners in Gloucester to tell the story of the city’s most significant regeneration project for a generation.
About the project
The Forum is a £107m mixed-use development project transforming Gloucester city centre. Jointly led by Gloucester City Council and its development partner Reef + Partners, The Forum is part of a £200m city centre regeneration, which is revamping the public realm and creating great places to live, work and learn.
Together, it forms the largest regeneration project ever undertaken in the city.
We were appointed in 2018 to lead media and local business engagement at a time when the development had long been talked about but was yet to happen in earnest. As a result, there was doubt locally and in the media about the plans and the project’s profile was poor. Many people doubted that the project would ever happen.
We developed a narrative for the development to improve perceptions and build confidence amongst stakeholders, businesses and investors. Partners used our message strategy consistently across all platforms. Using a coordinated media relations campaign, and by engaging local businesses, we transformed perceptions about the project.
Where journalists expressed doubts, they now see and report on development as being a game-changer for Gloucester and the wider region.
As development progresses towards completion, we continue to work with project partners and this positive momentum continues. Communications has been instrumental in raising the development’s profile, helping to secure business tenants, engage key stakeholders, and create a positive perception with the public.
pieces of media coverage to date
success rate: awards shortlisted or won
brochure downloads
Outcomes
With detailed planning consent awarded in April 2021, we continue to raise the project’s profile and maintain its reputation as Gloucester’s emerging social and digital campus, throughout the construction phase and as the project completed.
We have generated hundreds of positive items of media coverage, helping to build strong levels of support.
A highlight saw the project as a backdrop for the BBC’s coverage of the region’s reactions to the 2024 autumn budget statement, with The Forum billed as a prime business destination on one of the year’s biggest news days. We were pleased to welcome BBC Points West back to the project in May 2026 for the official opening ceremony, where stakeholders and project partners celebrated the milestone.
We regularly secure opportunities for The Forum to feature in regional business media, both with news and milestones, and continue to promote the project across sector news outlets.
Our steady stream of engaging social media content is building connections and consolidating The Forum’s position as a key part of Gloucester’s cultural and economic future.
We also support the team with award entries, with every entry submitted to date either securing a shortlisting or a win. Most notably, The Forum has been named ‘best long-term regeneration project’ in the Revo Awards 2025 and ‘place-making project of the year’ at the Insider South West Property Awards 2025.
What the client said
“Arianne and Ben have provided important support to The Forum development, helping us navigate the expected ups and downs of a complex urban development calmly and clearly.” – Peter Langly-Smith, Managing Director, Reef + Partners.
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