Stowmarket Town Centre Gateway Fund

Fund logo
We (Mid Suffolk District Council) have created a £1.5million fund to enhance Stowmarket town centre. Round 1 of the Stowmarket Town Centre Gateway Fund closed on 15 November 2024, and a second round will likely be launched in the spring of 2025.

For Round 1 applicants, funding and support decisions will be taken during January 2025 (and once the external stakeholder panel of town representatives has reviewed proposals). All applicants will be contacted directly following that process with an outcome - whether successful, invited to re-apply for a future round or rejected/signposted to other funding options.

Between now and then, follow-up enquiries will be made with those parties formally expressing interest in accessing the fund.

This Fund is made possible thanks to the income generated by our investment in the Gateway 14 business park - which is on the edge of the town.

A summary of the initiative is as follows:

  1. We will work with landlords to bring under-utilised properties (including empty shops) back into use. This could involve us buying buildings, renting buildings for a short term, or helping to support their refurbishment
  2. Potential occupiers will then be supported to find a location in the town centre. This will open the door for new businesses, pop-ups and other ventures who want to launch their first shop or space
  3. The types of use encouraged include:
    • arts and cultural experiences
    • tourism
    • community activities
    • retail
    • small business workspaces
    • leisure, food and drink
    • activities that bring something new to the town
  4. We are confident that we can help create exciting new opportunities, which support a sustainable and vibrant future. We will work alongside key partners - such as Stowmarket Town Council, private sector owners, businesses and potential occupiers - to bring new attractions to the town centre. This will create a more resilient, mixed-use future and will increase footfall
  5. Any profits from the town centre initiative will be reinvested into the scheme

For more information about these requirements, please read Appendix A of the Stowmarket Town Centre Gateway Fund (Framework)