Leamington to benefit from Healthy High Streets programme

Leamington Spa has been selected as one of 100 towns across the UK to be supported by the Business in the Community’s (BITC) Healthy High Streets programme.

The programme seeks to revitalise high streets which have the potential for growth and to engage large businesses more in their local communities.

BITC’s corporate partners, Boots, EE, Exterion Media, Greggs, Marks & Spencer, Santander and Wilko, are collaborating with local towns in order to help develop them.

The partners will engage in everything from creating and enabling high-profile events to drive footfall to providing expert guidance to market and celebrate the high street as a shopping concept.

Leamington Spa's inclusion in the towns selected for support is very welcome as the Healthy High Streets programme has a track record of proven success.

Data taken from Healthy High Streets towns in 2015 showed an improvement in footfall by 0.4% from the start of the programme, whereas footfall declined nationally by 0.4%. Healthy High Street towns also saw a 5% drop in empty units since the start of the programme, again comparing favourably to the national average.

Under the programme, Leamington will now receive a bespoke package of support and expertise, with the three main aims being to increase footfall by 10%, reduce the number of vacant businesses by 20% and stimulate new job opportunities.

This is not the only positive attention that Leamington Spa has received which will have a favourable impact on local businesses. The Times recently named the town as the third best place for families to live in the UK, recognising its strong sense of identity, successful businesses and community spirit.