A new advice guide has been launched to support local businesses and help protect Evesham’s unique heritage.
The Evesham Town Centre Business Guide brings together key information on everything from shopfront improvements to conservation responsibilities. It also offers guidance on planning issues such as advertising consent and pavement licences, as well as links to key contacts and information.
The hope is the guide will become a trusted tool for businesses by supporting them to invest in their premises or advertise in a way that protects the character of the town centre and helps it thrive.
Evesham Town Centre is covered by a Conservation Area which recognises and protects the historic detail of the buildings within it. There are also several listed buildings. Making alterations to properties in these categories, or advertising on them or within the zone, can be hard to understand because of the many rules covering them.
The guide aims to bring all this information into one place and empower businesses to invest in their premises in a way that respects Evesham’s past but allows for growth in the future. It was created by Evesham Place Board, Wychavon and other local partners, from an idea put forward by Wychavon councillor Craig Reeves.
Funded using Wychavon’s share of the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the guide will be distributed to local businesses over the coming weeks. You can also download the guide from the Evesham Place Board website.
The guide builds on the recent Evesham Shopfront Improvement Scheme, which was led by Evesham Place Board and saw £100,000 invested by Wychavon through the UKSPF.
Cllr Richard Morris, Leader of Wychavon and Executive Board Member for Economic Growth and Tourism, said: “This is a fantastic tool which will help businesses to thrive and play their part in protecting and enhancing Evesham Town Centre. My thanks go to everyone involved in producing this guide, which represents our shared commitment to championing businesses and our town centres.”
Cllr Craig Reeves added: “Town centres connect a community and here in Wychavon we are blessed to host spaces that are brimming with character and heritage. As retail trends change and town centres across the nation evolve, it’s more important than ever, that we lean into our unique heritage and bask in the value it offers.
“I’m grateful to Evesham Place Board, Wychavon and The Civic Society who have worked tirelessly to create this guide and believe it to be a brilliant resource for businesses both new and existing.”
Find out more about Wychavon's Place Boards in Evesham, Droitwich Spa and Pershore.