Members are asked to receive a presentation from the Council’s Regeneration Manager
Minutes:
Members received a presentation, on town centre regeneration, from the Council’s Regeneration Manager.
Hornchurch
Members were advised that Hornchurch town centre had 189 commercial premises with a vacancy rate of 4% which was below the national average.
Members were advised that an area based scheme of improvements was planned for Hornchurch town centre following the Council receiving an allocation of £2.5m from TfL. Phase one had been completed (Station Lane) and phase two had started in January 2013.
Members noted that Hornchurch town centre had several attractive public spaces and cultural activities taking place on a regular basis.
Members noted that several trees had been replaced in the town centre due to their roots causing problems with cracking pavements.
Members were advised that the Hornchurch Town Centre Partnership was comprised of local shop keepers, The Queen’s Theatre, Church, Police and the Council and its objective was to promote and improve the town centre whilst co-ordinating the activities of its partners to deliver the Hornchurch Urban Strategy.
Upminster
Upminster town centre comprised of 182 retail units with a vacancy rate of 3%.
Members noted that the town centre often held a farmers market which boosted trade to other retail units in the area.
Collier Row
Members noted that Collier Row town centre had 78 retail units with a vacancy rate of 5%.
Members were advised that the shopkeepers worked alongside the Collier Row Community Group to promote the town centre including holding the annual carnival and Christmas events.
The town centre had also benefitted from £10,000 of Town Team Partner funding and from £50,000 of regeneration capital.
Members noted that future initiatives for the town centre included a retail directory, branded shopping bags and the development of a Town Team.
Members advised that consideration be given to the possibility of installing a banner across the High Street to promote events taking place.
Elm Park
Members were advised that Elm Park town centre had 115 retail units with a vacancy rate of 9%.
Members noted that a Clean and Green event had taken place in the town centre and that there was an Elm Park Regeneration Partnership in place.
£150,000 of funding had been sourced through a TfL Local Implementation Plan and £50,000 of regeneration funding had been secured.
Harold Hill
It was noted that Harold Hill town centre had 71 retail units with a vacancy rate of 14%.
Members were advised that the Hilldene Avenue shopping centre was included in the Harold Hill Ambitions programme to transform the quality of life in the area.
Improvements would see additional parking, improved footways and street furniture, a new library and promotion of the shopping centre. Members were advised that a shopping guide had been produced and sent to all residents in Harold Hill as part of the Harold Hill Ambitions newsletter.
Rainham
It was noted that Rainham town centre had 41 retail units and had a vacancy rate of 10%.
As part of the Rainham Compass plan it was important the Rainham’s heritage was protected and this included ensuring that the shop fronts of the retail units remained in their existing format.
A traffic management scheme was proposed for Viking Way linking the Tesco superstore and the village.
Building on consultation with