Business and Economy

Hampshire Market Towns

Hampshire Market Towns Project celebrated

Representatives of fifteen small rural 'market' towns met in Winchester on Wednesday 18th April to celebrate the official close of the Hampshire Market Towns Project, which has been led by HCC's Economic Development Office since 2001. The overall aim of the Market Towns Project was to enable local people to retain and enhance the businesses, facilities and services in their town upon which local people rely.

Enthusiastic volunteers from seven of those towns told those present about their achievements over the last decade, some of which had been funded by SEEDA's Small Rural Towns Fund, many by smaller amounts of funding, but all of which had been driven by local volunteers with a love of the place they live.  

Examples of their achievements were the refurbishment of an iconic Town Hall; provision of off-street parking for business owners to free up spaces for casual shoppers; youth provision and coordination of the activities of existing voluntary groups; refurbishment and re-opening of a station waiting room in which a small business could operate, and setting up regular markets and events with which to attract larger numbers of people to use the towns.

Other speakers included Stuart Jarvis, Director of Economy, Transport and Environment, who explained the new operating environment that HCC was working within, Liz Bourne from Action for Market Towns on Neighbourhood Planning, and Anne Harrison from Economic Development.  She explained that, now the Regional Development Agency, SEEDA, has been wound up, financial support is no longer available to her work as dedicated Market Towns Manager and for project funding, although there would continue to be support, information and guidance on issues related to the economy and the environment for those in the county's market towns.

Presentations from the event held on 18 April 2012

A full report of the impact of the Hampshire Market Towns Project is in preparation but you can find out more about the Small Rural Towns Programme in the South East from the Evaluation Report, May 2011 Microsoft Word 2mb

Queries on this project, or concerning any of the issues mentioned on this page, should be sent by email to anne.harrison@hants.gov.uk.

The Localism Act and other community planning in Hampshire

Some villages have carried out Parish Plans, prepared Village and Town Design Statements; they may be involved in Village Design Framework planning with their District Council; or larger communities may wish to carry out a Neighbourhood Plan. Find out more about Community Led Planning in Hampshire

For assistance with Parish Plans, contact the Community Development Workers at Community Action Hampshire, telephone 01962 854971. For assistance with Design Statements and Neighbourhood Planning you will need to get in touch with your district council Planning Department.

The newly passed Localism Act 2011 has introduced new community rights, which should be considered carefully and discussed initially with your local town or parish council.