Decision details

Decision to delegate approval for Sophie Broadfield, Director of Sustainable Communities to accept the £895k Love our High Streets Funding from WECA (West of England Combined Authority), to deliver the new town square outside the Town Hall, part 1 of the High Street Renewal Programme for Midsomer Norton, in line with the Delivery Programme agreed via SMD in February 2020.

The Cabinet Member agrees that approval to accept the £895k Love our High Streets grant from WECA can be delegated to the Director of Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the s151 officer. These funds will be spent over a two-year period in line with the Full Business Case and the approved concept designs. This will allow full approval of the confirmed £845k in capital funds for the Market Square project (and Midsomer Norton High Street Renewal scheme) and confirmed £50k for revenue budget support (one off for spend 2022-2024) as outlined in Section 5 of the SMD report. It will also enable the Provisional Capital Budget of £1.015m to be approved and moved into the Approved Capital Budget.

B&NES Council recently secured £895k from WECA’s ‘Love our High Streets’ grant programme for the redevelopment of The Island, Midsomer Norton, via a Full Business Case approved at WECA Committee on 28th January 2022.

The rationale for the focus on The Island, specifically the creation of a new Market Square at the western end of the High Street, is to support the market town’s local economy by boosting footfall to this location, supporting the economic resilience of the wider High Street, enhancing and revitalising the public realm and historic environment, and enhancing the function and sustainability of this key civic space. This funding will in turn support the wider Midsomer Norton High Street Renewal initiatives and thereby complement schemes seeking to improve footfall and occupancy within the town centre and provide opportunities for diverse local businesses, community groups and residents to thrive.

There is an option to decline the grant and not progress the High Streets Renewal programmes, or to re-scope parts of the projects. However, our high streets are in urgent need of support and releasing funding now will allow benefits for businesses and the community to be realised as soon as possible.

Another option would be to focus the Love our High Streets grant on another part of the Midsomer Norton High Street; however, the proposals aim to bring maximum benefits and animation within Midsomer Norton to support footfall and economic vibrancy. This scheme forms part of a package of interventions within the wider High Street Renewal Programme for Midsomer Norton and therefore The Island is considered to be the location most suitable for this investment. A Delivery Plan for the wider package of interventions outside of the WECA LoHS funding has already been agreed.