Funding boost for 'Kidderminster Masterplan' to improve town centre

Kidderminster is one of several towns across the Greater Birmingham area to receive investment to help town centres, which have taken a hit during the pandemic, and make them fit for purpose going forward.

The funding for Kidderminster will go to the Kidderminster Masterplan project to advance redevelopments of the Lion Fields and Crown House sites.

Wyre Forest District Council has appointed a development partner, Cordwell, to bring forward plans for a leisure development, including a cinema, on the former Glades leisure centre site. However, no planning application has been submitted.

CGI image of plans to transform the eastern side of Kidderminster town centre

Earlier in the year, the district and county councils opened up Worcester Street to traffic.

Plans for the redevelopment of the area surrounding the Bromsgrove Street car park were approved by Cabinet in February last year along with plans to transform the former Magistrates’ Court.

This is reliant on money being secured from Government under the Future High Streets Fund. The district council is due to submit its bid in June.

The future of the Crown House site, which saw demolition completed last month, is yet to be decided, although plans to use the space as a temporary council-run car park were approved in December.

• Incredible time lapse video shows demolition of Crown House

On top of the £40,000 for Kidderminster's Masterplan, another £10,000 has been given to the local Business Improvement District (BID) to look into ways to bring disused buildings in the town back into use.

The money will fund a study into practical options to get vacant units re-occupied.

Simon Marks, board director at Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), said: “It has never been more critical to plan for the future of our town centres.

"Thriving, vibrant towns and local centres play a crucial role in the growth and development of the GBSLEP area, providing important social hubs for our communities and high-quality places to live, work and visit.

Shutters down on shops in Kidderminster town centre during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo by @KminsterCops

“Even before the Covid-19 outbreak and the huge challenges we all currently face, we knew that our towns and high streets would have to adapt to continue to prosper.

"Consumer spending habits and the rise of online retail has altered the landscape for the traditional high street.

"The challenges we face now are even greater as our centres prepare for reopening as well as determining what the future will look like for both town centre users and occupiers.

"We hope these funds will help shape the future of our local towns and high streets and help them remain competitive as well as places people will continue to visit and invest in.”