Showcase of investment in Stowmarket
Mid Suffolk District Council, working with Stowmarket Town Council and Suffolk County Council, staged a breakfast event at The Regal Cinema today (31 October).
The event provided the opportunity to showcase a raft of new measures agreed to support Stowmarket town centre. They are designed to help:
- bring empty high street units back into use
- improve the town centre environment and street scene
- attract visitors to spend time and money in the town
- and better connect the town
Attendees heard about the launch of the Stowmarket Town Centre Gateway Fund. It sees £1.5m from Gateway 14 – the nearby business, innovation and logistics park – being ploughed back into bringing empty high street units back into use.
The first part of the scheme sees the council working with landlords to bring under-utilised properties, including empty shops, back into use.
This could involve the council buying buildings, renting them for a short term or helping to support refurbishment.
Potential occupiers wanting a town centre presence can then be matched with a property. The aim is to open the door for new businesses, pop-ups and other ventures looking to launch their first store or space.
The types of use encouraged, that bring something new to the town, include:
- arts and cultural experiences
- tourism
- community activities
- retail
- small business workspaces
- leisure
- food and drink
- ‘pop up’ activities
Further information on the scheme – including how to apply before the first round’s deadline on 15 November, is available on the council's website.
A short promotional film, which received its premiere at the event, is also available.
Other measures discussed at the event included a £400K Stowmarket Town Centre Shopfront Scheme fund.
It is for existing shop and property owners, where the council will help to improve the appearance of the frontage of their premises.
The funding can cover the cost of new signage, canopies, lighting, cladding or the reinstatement of traditional or historic features that have been lost.
Awards of up to £10k per property are available, or up to £20k for exceptional applications. Further information is available on the council's website.
More details were also shared about Mid Suffolk’s investment in enhancing street cleansing and public realm services for the town. Alongside the £50K award already given to support the creation of Stowmarket Town Council’s popular new town ranger service.
“We know that high streets are changing.
"Like most towns, Stowmarket is not immune from pressures such as online shopping, the pandemic, increased costs, and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. We can’t turn back the clock, but we can invest in the future.
“Stowmarket already has much to be proud of... it’s history and culture, the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts, the Food Museum, The Mix, The Regal, as well as terrific independent businesses.
“But competition for people’s time and attention is fiercer than ever, so we must ensure we give people different reasons to visit the town centre and spend more time there.”
Cllr Mellen also shared that feasibility work was underway into demand for hotel accommodation. With further plans to improve transport connections to the outskirts of Stowmarket and surrounding villages also on the agenda - building on next month’s launch of two new council-funded community transport services.
“Looking backwards will not take us forward and we cannot stop the irreversible changes that are taking place in the world around us.
"However, for the first time in a very long time, money is now available, and proposals unveiled to support Stowmarket town centre.
"We must seize this moment and invite and urge everyone to work together to support our town centre.”
