The proposed 18-month lease will enable the High Street Accelerator Town Partnership, in association with the Council, to introduce a new business to the High Street, enhancing the retail mix and supporting a new or growing business. The High Street Accelerator Town Partnership is made up of local stakeholders from town centre businesses, community voluntary services, Harwich Town Council and the Harwich Society, having been formed to decide on the projects undertaken with the High Street Accelerator (HSA) grant.
Taking on the lease would also allow The Town Partnership to set a design precedent for shop fronts, contributing to the overall visual improvement of the High Street. The works to the shop front will be funded within the £30,000 budget allocated to this project from the High Street Accelerator (HSA) Grant.
This project forms part of the High Street Accelerator (HSA) program which aims to support the regeneration of Dovercourt town centre through targeted interventions and responds directly to community feedback and identified needs and can be funded from the Year 2 High Street Accelerator Grant of £187k.
Two months prior to the expiry of the lease, it will be for the Freeholder to decide if it wishes to grant a new lease to the new start-up business. If so, upon expiry of the 18-month lease the Council will not request a new lease of the Property and this project will deemed to be completed.
If the business is unsuccessful, the Council will either open the opportunity up to a reserve business or offer the premises for community use until the end date of the lease.
The Economic Growth Team at the Council will monitor that the terms of the lease are complied with, by the Council and the new start-up business, through its licence.