Announcements on the future of Gloucester Prison are said to be ‘imminent’ while regeneration work on two historic buildings in Southgate Street is close.

The Ministry of Justice is currently considering a number of bids for HMP Gloucester, and city council leader Paul James said an announcement on the future of the site could be made within weeks.

Earlier this year Gloucester MP Richard Graham outlined a vision for the prison which includes homes, offices, a five-star hotel, courts complex and council offices.

The site, which closed as a prison in February last year, is believed to be worth between £1.5million and £3million.

Despite its central location between the city centre and the Docks, it has Grade-II star listed structures and some bodies of criminals are also said to be buried there.

Mr James said: “The prison is a very important part of the city and the Blackfriars area, and we want to work on a comprehensive plan for the whole area.

“The decision seems to be pretty imminent and hopefully we can hear something within the next week or two.”

Hugh Worsnip, spokesman for Gloucester Civic Trust, said: “The prison is the number one conservation problem in the city. It’s a beautiful building with a grim purpose.

“Hopefully the plan will involve the wider area so we don’t have one building subsidising the other.”

Plans to reinvigorate the former car showroom in 174 Southgate Street and the 19th Century house in 141 Southgate Street are also picking up pace.

The former showroom, which once housed Spa Motors, is said to be in a poor state of repair but an application is expected shortly to spruce up the property.

Work to renovate the terraced house in 141 Southgate Street has also started.

The house, near to where Southgate Street and Spa Road meet, has become overgrown after being left empty for several years.

Mr James said: “These works are key to the city centre because 141 Southgate Street was in a poor state of disrepair and was having a detrimental effect on the neighbourhood as well.

“The car showroom was also in a poor state and was empty for some time.”

Mr Worsnip said: “Our position at the Civic Trust is that we welcome any efforts to regenerate the city centre.”

The prison and the two Southgate Street properties are all on a 20-strong hitlist of buildings targeted for regeneration.