Supporting Evesham – One Space at a Time
As I reach the eight-week mark in my role as Chair of the Evesham Place Board, I’ve had time to reflect on both the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead for our town. Like many rural centres, Evesham faces generational shifts in how people interact with high streets and public spaces. But I remain genuinely excited about the future.
Evesham has more positives than negatives. Yet, in today’s social media-driven world, it’s often the negatives that dominate the conversation. That’s something I hope we can begin to change—by highlighting what’s working, what’s improving, and what’s possible.
One of the most pressing challenges is the Riverside Shopping Centre. It’s long been a concern for the town, and we all agree it can’t happen soon enough. I’m reassured by the diligence of Wychavon District Council, who are committed to delivering a major transformation in the not-too-distant future once public ownership is secured. Their work will be pivotal in reshaping the heart of our town.
Traffic congestion is another issue that affects Evesham commercially. While the Place Board doesn’t have direct influence over infrastructure decisions, we are actively engaging with those who do. We continue to ask the right questions and advocate for solutions. One such solution is the Hampton Bridge project, which we fully support. It will encourage active travel, increase footfall, and help alleviate congestion. This month, we formally reaffirmed our support in a letter to Worcestershire County Council.
Another major challenge is the quality and occupancy of shop units. As I write this, there are 70 empty units in the town—35 of which are outside the Riverside Shopping Centre. In my day job as Retail Director at The Valley, I’ve seen firsthand how the retail landscape has changed. Success now requires a mindset shift that requires dedicated time towards a proactive approach to attracting new business into towns and retail destinations.
That’s why, this month, we’ve launched the Evesham Town Centre Occupancy Strategy Group. The name may be a mouthful, but the mission is clear: to support Evesham, one space at a time. The group brings together Place Board members, Wychavon District Council Development Leads, and local commercial property agents. Together, we’ll:
Share industry insights and identify expanding retailers
Develop a dedicated website to inform prospective businesses
Promote available support, including improvement grants
Run PR and online campaigns to highlight Evesham’s strengths
Directly connect operators with landlords and commercial property agents.
We’ve set ambitious targets, but our initial focus will be on making meaningful progress—one space at a time.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the incredible members of the Evesham Place Board. They give up their time freely and work tirelessly to support our town. If you meet any of them—online or in person—please treat them as the local heroes, they are.