Cabinet to consider two Future High Streets Fund reports

At their meeting on Tuesday 13 September 2022, Cabinet will consider two reports that provide an update on the transformational schemes being funded via central government's Future High Streets Fund.

The first seeks delegated authority to spend the funding of £16,347,056 for Trowbridge and £9,355,731 for Salisbury and to deliver the various schemes that will kick-start the rejuvenation of these town centres.

It provides an update on these schemes which in Trowbridge includes pedestrian and public space enhancements in the town centre, improvements to the River Biss corridor, launch of the vacant commercial unit grant programme and the renovation of the Town Hall. In Salisbury the schemes include redesigning the Salisbury station forecourt making it more attractive and accessible, improvements to the road network and public spaces along Fisherton Street making it easier, safer and more convenient to travel by foot into the city centre and redeveloping a vacant listed building and creating apartments in unoccupied spaces above shops to encourage young people to live, work and socialise in the city.

It also acknowledges that some changes have been identified since the original project budgets were submitted and the council is liaising with central government about the possible reallocation of funds between projects to ensure they can meet the set funding and delivery timescales.

The other report focuses on the refurbishment programme for the Grade II listed Town Hall, to help secure its long-term future as a community asset. Cabinet will consider the grant of a 125-year lease, to Trowbridge Town Hall Trust, as the preferred end-user of the refurbished building, subject to ongoing due diligence. £8.1 million was originally allocated from FHSF and it has been established that an additional £540,000 is required to bring forward a viable scheme, which, subject to central government agreement, is proposed to be reallocated from other FHSF workstreams.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: A lot of progress has been made in developing the projects that are coming forward as part of this significant investment in two of our main town centres. Through Future High Streets Funding, Trowbridge and Salisbury have the chance to strengthen and diversify their offers for local residents and visitors as well as improving access to these town centres.

This investment and these transformational schemes support the priorities set out in our Business Plan, supporting our high streets, having vibrant, well-connected communities, staying active and taking responsibility for the environment. So it's important that Cabinet carefully considers these two reports at next week's meeting.