Town 's 'positive future ' set out at Chamber business fair

Sutton Coldfield businesses heard there are “a lot of cogs turning ” towards the town 's regeneration - as the Royal Business Fair returned after a three-year absence.

The much-mooted redevelopment of Sutton Coldfield town centre was high on the agenda at the business expo, hosted by Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce.

Around 300 delegates and 40 exhibitors attended the event at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, which was sponsored by law firm Enoch Evans and the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID).

As well as having the opportunity to network and develop business contacts, attendees also received an update on the town 's highly-anticipated regeneration plans from BID chair Angela Henderson and Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council regeneration programme manager Janet Rowley.

Ms Rowley said the town centre is in the midst of some “real opportunities ”, including development plans for key sites and a short-term strategy to bring vacant properties back into use.

Central to those opportunities are the town centre 'Masterplan ' document and key collaborations with the town 's 'big three ' landowners - Birmingham City Council, who have acquired the Red Rose and Newhall Walk retail sites, Aldi, who plan to develop the derelict Brassington Avenue, and Gracechurch Shopping Centre owners M&G Investments.

Ms Rowley said: “It 's been a grim time for all of us but the sun is shining and things are moving.

“We have got some real opportunities. We have got an enthusiastic, affluent and loyal community.

“We 're having some really positive dialogues with developers in the town centre.

“We 're not going to wait for things to happen in a couple of years ' time - we need to do it now. ”

Phil Arkinstall, president of the Sutton Coldfield Chamber and CEO of video production firm Ark Media, said: “It was great to have the Royal Business Fair back after a three-year absence. Sutton Coldfield Town Hall was a great location for the event and businesses had some real success.

“Being based in the town centre ourselves, it was great to hear the plans to improve it over coming years - and you can see that there are a lot of cogs turning.

“It shows that the town centre does have a positive future. ”

Agencies PLOTT Creative and EDGE Creative also joined forces to deliver a seminar on how businesses can maximise and build their brand and marketing potential.

Pictured (l-r): Reiss Matthews - Enoch Evans, Janet Rowley - Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, Stephen Nixon - Enoch Evans, Angela Henderson - Gracechurch Shopping Centre, Michelle Baker - Sutton Coldfield BID, Phil Arkinstall - Ark Media, Henrietta Brealey - GBCC and Olive O'Sullivan - Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.