Staged by Mid Suffolk District Council, working with Stowmarket Town Council and Suffolk County Council, the breakfast event at The Regal Cinema provided the opportunity to showcase a raft of new measures agreed to support Stowmarket town centre, 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, with £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 – opening the door for new businesses, popups and other ventures looking to launch their first store or space.

The types of use encouraged include arts and cultural experiences, tourism, community activities, retail, small business workspaces, leisure, food and drink and ‘pop up’ activities that bring something new to the town.

Further information on the scheme – including how to apply before the first round’s November 15 deadline, is available on the council website. A short promotional film, which received its premiere at the event, is also available.

Other measures discussed at the event a £400K Stowmarket Town Centre Shopfront Scheme – a funding scheme 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, with awards of up to £10k per property available, or up to £20k for exceptional applications. Further information is available on the council website.

More details were also shared about Mid Suffolk’s investment in enhancing street cleansing and public realm services for the town, in addition to the £50K award already given to support the creation of Stowmarket Town Council’s popular new town ranger service.

Council leader Cllr Andy Mellen said: “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.”

Cllr Mellen also shared that feasibility work was underway into demand for hotel accommodation, as well as plans to further improve transport connections to the outskirts of Stowmarket and surrounding villages, building on next month’s launch of two new council-funded community transport services.

“By working together, in partnership with others, we believe we can further create the conditions for the high street to thrive,”.