Our town and village centres are at the heart of our vision for a thriving Elmbridge.
As the national economic headwinds blow through our town and village centres our work to support our high streets in the short term and help them adapt and evolve in the longer term, has never been more important.
We are here to back our high streets and businesses with our 2030 Vision, the annual Enterprise Elmbridge Action Plan and a range of targeted funding and support.
The Enterprise Elmbridge Action Plan sets out our support for local independents, high streets, and businesses as we continue to work hard to ensure the borough remains a great place to live, shop, work and play.
Building on our 2023/2024 achievements
Our Enterprise Elmbridge programme continues to work hard to support our high streets and businesses.
Over the past 12 months we have delivered new investment in our town and village centres helping a diverse range of projects from supporting the Walton Playhouse to relaunch, to helping set up the One Cobham business improvement district, to backing the Esher Chamber of Commerce with funding to keep the flags flying for Remembrance and the lights twinkling at Christmas, as well as helping our young people get back into training and employment through the successful Youth Hub programme.
Exciting plans for 2024
Looking forward, we are pleased to set out the next phase of funding and support to help our businesses and high streets thrive:
- Small and medium-sized businesses can access Green Business Boost funding, to help reduce energy emissions and decarbonise.
- We are working with our high street business groups to support local events with a flexible use of our car parks and green spaces, and looking to develop new artisan, farmers and independent markets to not only promote sustainability but to attract residents and visitors to our high streets.
- With business improvement districts (BIDs) established and delivering in Walton and Cobham we will be supporting Esher and Weybridge to understand how a BID might help their businesses and high streets.
- We will continue to support young people with our Youth Hub at Brooklands College, work to improve business links with schools and continue with our series of masterclasses for small and medium sized businesses.
- The Elmbridge UK Shared Prosperity Fund investment plan will deliver over £850,000 of new funding to help our high streets, community, green space and play areas with new funding.
This is just a snapshot of the proposed Enterprise Action Plan which we are bringing to the March Cabinet. We are really looking forward to working with our businesses and partners over the next 12 months to ensure our high streets and villages continue to be fantastic places to live, shop, work and visit.
Cllr Robin Stephens,
Portfolio Holder for Enterprise and Local Economy