Fleet Future High Streets bid: Challenges are broad and far reaching

Hart Council’s Fleet Future High Streets bid has been released under FOI and it says “the challenges facing Fleet Town Centre are challenging and far reaching”.

The key takeaways from the bid are:

• The council quotes a prior report that says a “do nothing scenario would not be viable in Fleet”.
• Fleet faces a number of key challenges.
• 88% of people say Fleet doesn’t meet their retail and leisure needs.
• 52% of people would not recommend a visit to the town centre.
• 67% think the poor retail offer reflects badly on the town centre.
• The confidence of local businesses is extremely low.
• Fleet unable to compete with neighbouring towns.
• Major retailers identify Fleet as an investment risk.
• Lack of affordable housing is identified as a key issue by 27%.

On the plus side, only £100K of funding would be needed to pull together a master-plan and business case to get things back on track. This would be in line with the visions of various stakeholders:

• Hart Council’s vision is to make Hart “THE place to live”.
• Fleet Town Council’s vision is to “create an accessible, sustainable, green town with an active population and a vibrant business cultural and community focus”.
• Fleet BID want to “create a vibrant town to be proud of”.

However, the Council hasn’t allocated any funding to achieve its vision. Indeed, it steadfastly refuses to even meet thepotential investors in the Hart Shopping Centre.  This proposal could deliver housing, improved retail, leisure and cultural facilities and being to address the key issues. Of course, Hart has agreed to spend up to £650K to conduct further studies into the unnecessary Shapley Heath Garden Village.

We really do deserve better from our politicians.

The full bid document and appendices can be downloaded using the buttons below. More detail on the bid document is shown below the buttons.

Do nothing is not an option for Fleet

Key Challenges for Fleet

Fleet’s key challenges identified in the bid included:

• No Unique Selling Point.
• Not an attractive investment proposition.
• Declining business turnover and low profits.
• Fleet Town Centre unattractive.

Confidence in Fleet is low

• 88% of people say Fleet doesn’t meet their retail and leisure needs.
• 52% say they wouldn’t recommend a visit to the town centre.
• 67% think the retail offer reflects badly on the town centre.

Low Business Confidence

Fleet unable to compete

Investment Risk of Fleet

Lack of affordable housing

[Update – adding quote for costs of master plan]

Future High Streets bid for money

 

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