Local businesses take a ‘walk’ around town to learn more about regeneration projects

8 August 2023

Tamworth Borough Council and partners Digital Islands Business Services Ltd, hosted a successful free’ Netwalking’ event on Thursday 3 August.

Partners, the council’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF) Project and Regeneration team, plus local businesses, met at 9.30am in Christophers Restaurant for coffee and introductions; proceeded with a tour covering the major regeneration developments currently undertaken through the Future High Street Fund Project.

The event enabled local businesses to come together and explore the future landscape of Tamworth town centre. Alice Poulton from the council’s FHSF Project team, led on the walkaround and gave insight to each of the key development areas, bringing the regeneration plans to life through an interactive and engaging tour.

The tour covered the following sites:

• The development of the new Tamworth Enterprise Centre 2 in the original 19th century former Co-op building on Colehill. Work here sees the building restored to become a second Enterprise Centre for Tamworth Town centre, providing affordable serviced offices, collaboration space, hot desks and meeting rooms in the heart of Tamworth town centre.
• The college relocation and St Editha’s Square, a project led by South Staffordshire College.
• Middle Entry renovations where some vacant units are being knocked down and replaced by a new building for independent small businesses.
• Works to restore and refurbish the former Peel Café, a late 18th century building. Bringing a historic building back into use while enhancing its original Georgian features.
• Market Street properties and castle bridge, to restore and refurbish the historic vacant properties on Market Street (opposite Peel Café) and creating a wider footbridge into the castle grounds.

A drop-in clinic was available in the afternoon at the Tamworth Enterprise Centre where the Tamworth Borough Council's Economic Development staff and Digital Islands Business Services expert, were on hand to welcome any local business with information and support.

More information about further netwalking tours can be found soon by joining the business hub here: https://tamworth-town-centre-business-hub.mn.co/.

Councillor Paul Turner, Leader of Tamworth Borough Council, said: “Thank you to our businesses and partners who joined us for our first ‘netwalking’ tour.

“The tour gave us the opportunity to engage with the town centre businesses and discuss our ambitious FHSF plans and works that are taking place.

“As we take steps forward with our plans for our town centre, it is one of mine and fellow cabinet members key priorities to engage regularly with our local businesses and hear their feedback about our regeneration ambitions.

“Our plans are bold as we strive for a town centre fit for the future. Work behind the scenes getting us to this point has been extensive, and it is so good to see our plans begin to take shape on the ground. With hoarding in place around the Peel Café, work will start there shortly.

“We know many businesses, shops and restaurants are working under very different conditions with the cost-of-living crisis, inflation and the town centre regeneration works, therefore, we really want to work closely with our businesses during these challenging times.”

Notes:

The event is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.