June 2019

WARWICKSHIRE MEANS BUSINESS

Transforming Nuneaton programme already showing benefits

"Nuneaton has so much to offer - working together with all stakeholders in the town, our vision is to fully maximise that offer to make Nuneaton a great place to live and work in and visit."

Nuneaton is well on the way to a vibrant future to go with its proud history as the Transforming Nuneaton programme kicks in to enhance the town centre.

The programme, driven by Warwickshire County Council and Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, is designed to deliver the transformation of Nuneaton town centre as a place of the future in terms of living, business and play.

It is very much a collective effort. Although Transforming Nuneaton is delivered by the two councils, they are engaged in ongoing open dialogue with all key stakeholders in the town - health, education, housing and transport sectors - to bring them on the journey and look at opportunities.

Nuneaton town centre, like all town centres, has faced its challenges in these uncertain economic times as retail and shopping trends evolve, but the positive effects of Transforming Nuneaton are already visible.

The programme was initiated last autumn with £7.5m of funding from the Government’s Local Growth Fund through the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership. That enabled the acquisition of land for future development to enable regeneration while funds from the two councils have acquired the former Co-op department store in Abbey Street, a key town-centre site.

The funding from the CWLEP, which recently held its Place Board meeting in the town, will also expedite the redesign of the ring road while traffic flows into town have been improved by a £3.7million upgrade of the historic Coton Arches junction.

Additionally, Nuneaton last year received a loan from the Government to advance plans for a ballot on establishing a Business Improvement District in the town, while recent investments locally include the construction of an £8m scheme of new retirement apartments by McCarthy & Stone.

Supporting the visitor economy is also integral to Transforming Nuneaton's vision for the future. Nuneaton has a rich history and heritage with many gems of significant interest to visitors, both in terms of places (the Abbey Theatre and Museum & Art Gallery) and people (George Eliot, Ken Loach, Larry Grayson, George Reader - how many other small towns have produced a great novelist, a great director, a Generation Game host and a World Cup final referee?).

Catherine Marks, Warwickshire County Council's programme manager for Transforming Nuneaton, said: "In partnership with Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, Warwickshire County Council, through its many roles including land owner, investor, highway and strategic transport planning authority, is proud to be driving change in this great town.

"Nuneaton has so much to offer and working together with all stakeholders in the town, our vision is to fully maximise that offer to make Nuneaton a great place to live and work in and visit."

Jonathan White, Head of Town Centres and Marketing at Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council said: “The Transforming Nuneaton programme is already having great impact in the town. There’s a crane on the horizon and hoardings can be seen on Church Street, Queens Road and Abbey Street as redevelopment work progresses.

“We have a solid, long-term vision that will underpin Nuneaton’s future prosperity. Having worked strategically with our partners for many years to bring that vision to life, it’s rewarding to see so much visible progress being made.”

A detailed presentation on the Transforming Nuneaton programme will be given at the Nuneaton & Bedworth Business Expo 2019 on July 5th.

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