Millions in Stowmarket town centre investment from Mid Suffolk District Council could be bolstered by more than £550k extra money

Millions in town centre investment could be bolstered by more than £550,000 in extra funding.

Members of Mid Suffolk’s cabinet are due to meet next Tuesday to discuss plans to invest up to £566,000 in Stowmarket’s town centre.

The bulk of the money would be used to create a £400,000 grant to improve the visible appearance of built properties, with £50,000 made available to support smaller projects within the town centre and £16,000 to create demand and viability studies for overnight accommodation in Stowmarket.

A further £100,000 would also be made available to increase the sustainability and interventions delivered by the Wayfinding Project.

The council’s leader, Andy Mellen, said the council was looking at proactive action to support a ‘revitalised town centre’ fit for the future with a mixed offer of retail, culture, leisure, residential and community uses.

He added: “Stowmarket town centre has many strengths — like most towns, it has not been immune from pressures such as online shopping, the pandemic, increased costs, and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, but we firmly believe it can have a bright future.

The plans follow the approval of £1.5 million in July meant to bring empty properties into use by buying, renting or refurbishing them, as well as supporting potential occupiers with grants and signposting.

During the same meeting, a £538,662 investment was also made available to expand and refurbish Stowmarket Library, in Church Walk, through money collected from developers.

This means, if approved next week, the council will have invested a total of £2.6 million into the town within less than half a year.

Cllr Teresa Davis also added although the town already had ‘much to be proud of’, the changing high street warranted a mix of attractions being created to give people different reasons to visit the town.