Regeneration
The Economic Development Service works to stimulate and support sustainable economic growth and inclusive communities in Wiltshire.
The Regeneration team guides the economic development and growth in Wiltshire's communities through a wide range of projects, initiatives and partnerships. The service has several key delivery areas including sustainable development by supporting job creation, encourages economic programmes, town centre regeneration, rural development, investment and funding, and provides business support and advice.
Key Initiatives
The One Public Estate programme is an established national programme delivered in partnership by the LGA and the Office of Government Property (OGP) within the Cabinet Office. For further details follow this link: One Public Estate
The Wiltshire One Public Estate Programme was established in 2013 and works to identify opportunities through combined estate which in turn help to realise savings and improve services. The Wiltshire One Public Estate Partnership meets bi- monthly and has members from the following public sector organisations:
Police Crime Commissioning Unit (PCC), NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS Property, NHS Acute Trusts, Wiltshire Ambulance Service, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service, Wiltshire Council, Ministry of Defence, Avon and Wiltshire Partnership & Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Wiltshire Council's Economic Regeneration team supports the work of the Wiltshire Market Towns Forum with a partnership of 20 Town Councils. The Forum was created to develop complementary town strategies, to promote networking amongst members, share common goals and objectives to support town centre regeneration.
The aim of the forum is to create self-reliant and resilient towns which are better equipped to support themselves. Key to achieving this is to create a framework of support which is tailored in such a way as to treat each town as distinct and unique.
Through this initiative, the Regeneration team have established a productive and positive working relationship with the market towns.
Wiltshire Council in conjunction with partners, stakeholders and the public have developed a number of Masterplans and frameworks that help set parameters for town redevelopment - identifying the opportunities and constraints within a given area. These documents can then be used as the basis for funding bids to make specific interventions as part of a regeneration programme, as well as providing guidance for those making planning applications.
Chippenham Masterplan May 2014 (PDF) [13MB] (opens new window)
Corsham Masterplan 2016 Part 1 (PDF) [10MB] (opens new window)
Corsham Masterplan 2016 Part 2 (PDF) [15MB] (opens new window)
Trowbridge Masterplan 2014 Part 1 (PDF) [18MB] (opens new window)
Trowbridge Masterplan 2014 Part 2 (PDF) [15MB] (opens new window)
SWLEP Local Energy Strategy Swindon and Wiltshire's Energy Future: Our Strategies
Information and guidance on Business Improvement Districts: BIDs
In October 2013 government set up a £500,000 loan fund to help communities who wish to create a Business Improvement District overcome prohibitive initial start-up costs.
Business Improvement Districts are business led partnerships which are created through a ballot process to deliver additional services to local businesses. A Business Improvement District is a defined area in which a levy is charged on all business rate payers in addition to the business rates bill. This levy is used to develop projects which will benefit businesses in the local area.
In Wiltshire Salisbury BID works to promote Salisbury's businesses and the city as a place to visit Salisbury Business Improvement District (BID).
In 2018 the government launched "Out plan for the high street" which included £675 million for a Future High Streets Fund.
The aim of the Future High Streets Fund is to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that drives growth, improves experience and ensures future sustainability. It will do this by providing co-funding to successful applicants to support transformative and structural changes to overcome challenges in their area.
On 26 August 2019, the Prime Minister confirmed that Round 1 of the Future High Streets Fund had been expanded to 50 more areas which included Trowbridge as well as Salisbury. Both places progressed to the second phase of the Future High Streets Fund and received £150,000 to support the development of detailed project proposals that can be submitted for capital funding.
These Business Cases were submitted in August 2020 and reviewed by MHCLG. Wiltshire Council was successful with their bids for the Future High Street Fund.
In 2020 Wiltshire Council was awarded £16,347,056 worth of funding which will be used in Trowbridge towards:
• Renovating the Town Hall and adjacent Market Chambers to become once again a vibrant hub of activity, breathing new life into our High Street;
• Improving accessibility, connectivity and wayfinding of the town centre;
• Offering grants to businesses to encourage the longer-term occupation of vacant retail premises, creating a more diverse offer in the town centre;
• Enhancements to the River Biss bank to enable safer pedestrian access to the river front and under the Town Bridge.
This range of projects is aimed at transforming the town centre, attracting visitors and businesses to the area, providing an economic boost to the local economy and protecting local jobs.
Further details can be found on the Future High Streets Fund Trowbridge page.
