We have successfully bid for funding from the West of England Combined Authority’s (WECA's) Housing and Regeneration Enabling Fund, to create regeneration plans and masterplans for four town centres in Bath and North East Somerset.
The first plan was for Radstock, and the Regeneration Action Plan has been developed in partnership with Radstock Town Council and local stakeholders. It identifies priority projects, and is being used to support future funding bids and inform investment plans and future strategies for the town.
The plan was approved by Radstock Town Council in January 2024 and B&NES Cabinet in March 2024.
Housing and employment growth anticipated for the town and surrounding area means that there will be more reliance on the town centre for facilities, services, employment and entertainment. However, in recent years Radstock Town Centre has lacked vibrancy and it is now a challenging trading environment with lower than desired footfall.
Radstock town centre is a designated town centre in the B&NES Local Plan and is a focal area for the community. The Radstock Regeneration Action Plan has been guided by the existing Local Plan and will feed into the development of the new Local Plan.
Public consultation took place in 2022 and 2023 and feedback from this and project scoping has informed the following priority projects:
- Improvements to Trinity Community hub which will provide a café, events space and a new home for Radstock Town Council and library
- Outdoor events: spaces have been identified as offering potential for hosting vibrant, engaging events
- Cultural programme focusing on arts and heritage celebrating Radstock's cultural identity and encouraging arts and heritage activity
- Brownfield site redevelopment, reuse and repurposing will be encouraged
- Tree Planting in Radstock town centre will take place in 2025
- Green and blue spaces within the town centre will be assessed to see how they might be improved and managed for the benefit of the local community and nature
- Site redevelopments that take place in Radstock will also be encouraged to incorporate retrofitting and renewable energy solutions
- Improved wayfinding in the town centre is being delivered in early 2025
- Re-occupation and temporary use of vacant units will be looked at where possible
- A Changing Places toilet was installed in Tom Huyton Park in 2023