Tamworth to receive support from High Streets Task Force

Tamworth has been picked as one of 68 local authorities to receive a package of expert advice and support from the High Streets Task Force.

As a result, Tamworth will be able to put forward its high street and town centre to receive help in addressing local challenges and developing strategies to make a positive change to the town.

Appointed in 2019 by the Government, the Task Force team will provide expert consultancy and training as they will be working directly with local government and facilitating engagement with communities and civic societies.

Tamworth is expected to begin to receive this support from this summer, and the High Streets Task Force experts will be visiting to consult and collaborate with, not only Tamworth Borough Council, but also local businesses and community groups, to unlock the town 's true potential.

To provide as much support as possible, regional indicators of deprivation and inequality have been analysed and the effect of coronavirus on high streets has been taken into consideration.

Help from the High Streets Task Force has already seen 84 other local authorities, responding to the impact of Covid-19, supported across England and provided with further online sources.

The first part of the support will involve a diagnostic visit from the Task Force team to identify the needs of Tamworth. They will then be able to prescribe follow up products and services relating to relevant expertise and strategies, for example place branding, visioning, governance or spatial design.

Follow up products and services consist of up to four days of expert consultancy time, mentoring where there is a need to build local relationships and specific workshops to support the development of place-making activity or a local vision.

Manchester Metropolitan University 's Institute of Place Management are leading the High Streets Task Force and have appointed 150 independent experts from the professional body 's Design Council, Landscape Institute, Institute of Place Management and the Royal Town Planning Institute to work with Tamworth, bringing their insight into town centres and how to build capacity for change.

Cllr Martin Summers, cabinet member for Voluntary Sector, Town Centre, Evening Economy & Community Safety, said: “We 're thrilled that Tamworth has been selected as one of the many towns to receive support from the High Streets Task Force. It 's a great time to get involved as there 's lots of things happening in the town, we 've got loads of projects we 're working on to transform Tamworth, and we 're delighted to be receiving this extra support.

“All the pieces are falling into place to make some real significant changes in Tamworth and this is simply the next step to investing in our town and making it an attractive place for people to visit. ”

Visits to each of these newly selected areas will continue until mid-2024.

Visit https://transforming.tamworth.gov.uk/ to read about all the work taking place to support and regenerate Tamworth 's high street.