Breathing New Life into Barnstaple

Plans to revitalise Barnstaple town centre have been announced.

North Devon District Council's preparing to sell key parcels of land  in Queen Street, Bear Street and Seven Brethren to attract retail giants and even a supermarket.
 
An independent study being carried out into the retail and leisure needs of the area and a report will be put to Executive members in September.  

 
Executive Member for Economic Regeneration, Councillor Malcolm Prowse told Heart about the plans.  CLICK HERE 

 
The council has been having discussions with a variety of major organisations, including retailers, leisure operators, developers and investors, who are showing interest in the town centre. This includes British Land, who recently invested millions in buying the Green Lanes Shopping Centre and are keen to work with the council to improve and modernise it.
 
Peter Woodley, the Asset Manager for the council, says: "The council first pursued marketing plans for the Queen Street and Bear Street area in 2008 following several years of discussion and investigation. However, the crash in the economy and the wider credit crunch halted those plans being developed at that time. Despite this, it's encouraging to know that we have had and are continuing to get a constant stream of enquiries about key sites in the town and we are therefore confident that the time is right to bring them forward."
 
The independent retail study is likely to start in the autumn and be completed by spring 2012. Work has already begun on the council's community consultation plan, which will involve all those with an interest in the town, including residents, visitors, Town Centre Management and local businesses. All of this will be used to help steer the development of these hugely important town centre sites.