Gateshead Council: Town Centre Management and Enabling
The role of town centres has changed drastically in recent years, and this has been exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Town centres have been forced to diversify their offer as changing shopping trends mean that retail is no longer the dominant town centre attraction. Gateshead town centre has particularly struggled, with declining footfall and the highest vacancy rate in the borough (24%).
The UKSPF Investment Plan recognises the town centre as both the borough's greatest challenge and greatest opportunity. The High Streets Task Force's 2022 evaluation of Gateshead town centre recommended that a new placemaking programme be co-ordinated by a dedicated lead officer to deliver quick wins and diversify the offer of the town centre is needed in Gateshead.
The High Streets Task Force report also provided recommendations to tackle town centre challenges focused on establishing an effective local network to co-ordinate a place making action plan, that will set out actions to:
- sustain existing levels of activity and provide new events to encourage users to dwell for longer and appeal to wider audiences
- activate and improve vacant shops and buildings in the town centre
- start basic improvements to physical appearance of the centre and key gateway sites, activate under-used sites, and improve connectivity with key anchors
A town centre task force of external stakeholders will be established in May, the role of the task force will be to support the delivery of the work by the Town Centre Manager.
If you wish to discuss the project or are interested in being part of the Town Centre Task Force please get in touch.
Contact:
Project contact: Victoria Oxley
Email: Victoriaoxley@gateshead.gov.uk or towncentre@gateshead.gov.uk
Phone: 07525 387 601