One of the projects funded by the Government Local Regeneration Fund, formerly known as the Towns Fund, was for shopping parades. There was a real desire to see the funding spread around the town.
The purpose of the £2.8m investment project was to improve local shopping parades and help them return to their former vibrancy as a key part of the local economy providing shops, jobs and essential services to local people. It was hoped that an uplift would also improve perceptions of parades and increase feelings of safety.
Twenty-eight shopping parades were identified across the town and were invited to participate. This wasn’t straightforward, as owners, tenants and property agents were all in the mix. Shopkeepers are busy people, many work seven days a week and finding time is not always easy.
However, there was consultation with all the parades and improvement ideas were agreed. In general, these were a mix of additional CCTV and highway improvements with more bins, bike racks and benches.
Works carried out at Henley Rise Shopping Parade on Fircroft Road included re-painting storefronts, provision of new street furniture and improvements to the car park and landscaping.
Works in Chantry have included: additional CCTV, white line marking and planting at Lavender Hill Shopping Parade. Additional CCTV and improvements to railings and planters at Cambridge Drive Shopping Parade. At Ellenbrook Green Shopping Parade there is additional CCTV, litter bins, bike racks and benches. Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) also resurfaced the car park.
Hawthorn Drive Shopping Parade is benefitting from additional CCTV, litter bins and bike racks. Works planned at the Shopping Parade later this year include creating level access to all shop units, resolving drainage issues, increasing car parking bays and improved planting.
A second part of this project was Shopfront Improvement Grants, which allowed independent businesses, in Shopping Parades outside the town centre, to apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to improve the visual appearance of their shop front.
Half of the funding was paid, with the second half paid on completion of the shop front improvement works.
National retailers/chains/multiples or any business with more than three locations, national charities, betting shops and pawnbrokers were not allowed to apply, as the focus was on small, local businesses. Sixteen grants have been approved through this scheme.
A third part of this project was the Community Facilities Grant. This scheme invited grant applications to improve community buildings, bringing them up to date and improving accessibility.
There were eleven grant recipients shared £190,000 including Emmaus at the Dales and at Felixstowe Road, Landseer BMX Track, St Helens church kitchen and the Flying Horse in Whitehouse.
A final addition to this project is to replace the rusted, bent and poorly repaired railings on the Civic Drive roundabouts. All the railings are to be replaced with black metal railings, galvanised so they won't rust. This will massively improve the approach to St Matthews Street shops.
Any unused funding will be returned to the Local Regeneration Fund, which has already funded young people’s organisation 4YP for creating a new youth centre, Brighten The Corners for upgrading The Baths venue and provide a digital creative lab and Clay 1A for an exciting visitor attraction on the Waterfront.
The changes to local shopping parades are a fantastic example of what can be achieved when councils, businesses and government funding work hand in hand.
All of the parades are improved, with some transformed. This investment creates a more welcoming environment for residents and visitors. It’s a boost for our local economy and a step towards creating sustainable, thriving communities in Ipswich.
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