Investment continues to pay dividends for Stowmarket town centre
The Stowmarket Town Centre Gateway Fund, made possible thanks to the council’s income from its investment in the nearby Gateway 14 business park, continues to bring vacant or under-utilised properties back into use, working with key partners to bring new ventures to the town centre.
The first round of bids included an award to help transform the vacant former Stannards store on Tavern Street into the Bull Room, now a popular town centre community darts venture.
Today, cabinet members at Mid Suffolk District Council approved the second round of funding, with awards of up to £100k to the Mid Suffolk Voluntary Organisations Forum for the redevelopment of the former fire station in Lockington Road; up to £100k for Stowmarket Arts CIC for the expansion of the Old Fox Yard gallery to add a new design room, improved gallery space and accessible facilities; and up to £70K for a new community-focused coffee roastery, subject to a suitable premises becoming available.
Working with partners, including Stowmarket Town Council, private landlords, the business community and potential investors, the council has sought to bring empty units back into use, while simultaneously inviting bids from potential occupiers – opening the door for new businesses, pop-ups and other ventures looking to launch their first store or space.
Stowmarket town centre continues to enjoy below average vacancy rates – at 6% for the first quarter of 2025/26 compared to the national average of around 14%
Cllr Richard Winch, cabinet member for Housing and Property, said:
Funding comes from income the council receives from its investment in the Gateway 14 business park, also home to Stowmarket Innovation Gateway – the council’s new £18m skills and innovation centre which opened this summer. Gateway 14 has also enabled previous investment in enhanced street cleaning for the town centre, funding for shopfront improvements, and new ‘wayfinding’ signage to help visitors navigate the town’s tourist attractions and points of interest.
Cllr Winch said:
During the same cabinet meeting, the project to convert the former Lockington Road fire station received a further £100k from the Community Infrastructure Levy – a fund made up legally required contributions from local developers which are then redistributed by the council to help local facilities keep pace with housing growth.
The funding will be used for the first phase of work required to transform the former fire station into a safe venue for an expansion of the range of community services and groups currently operating from nearby Red Gables in Ipswich Street.
A further £100k in CIL funding was awarded to the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts CIC so the town centre venue can continue it’s ambitious project to restore and reconnect the former Corn Exchange on Church Walk with the town’s former assembly rooms and Victorian ballroom in Market Place, creating a multi-function cultural and community hub in the heart of the town centre. This latest funding will cover the installation of a lift and associated work to enable disabled access from the ground floor to the first floor.
Families on the town’s Cedars Park estate can also look forward to £143.5k investment of CIL funding into new inclusive play equipment for the Creeting Road ‘Big park’.
In addition, the council is investing in new sporting facilities for the town, with a 3G pitch funded by the Football Foundation and mini athletics track at Stowmarket High School available for community use soon, as well as improvements to Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre and work continuing at Chilton Fields – with construction of a new sports pavilion also starting this summer.
