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Crawley businesses vote in favour of town centre initiative unlocking £2M of investment

Businesses in Crawley town centre have voted in favour of establishing a Business Improvement District (BID), unlocking more than £2million of investment over the next five years and help create a thriving town.

Published

10 months ago

on

68% of businesses in Crawley voted in favour of the BID, along with 73% in favour by Rateable Value.

A BID is a business-led initiative formed to improve a defined area. Crawley will now join more than 320 BIDs operating in the UK.

Commenting on the result, Chair of the Crawley Town Centre BID and a Director of Graves Jenkins, Neil Cooper, said:

“There is huge potential for Crawley to develop its own distinct offer and proposition and so we are delighted that businesses in the area have voted in favour of a BID. By working in collaboration with businesses and forming strong partnerships, the BID can make a positive difference”.

Paul Clement, director and head of place-shaping at Savills who were commissioned to support the development of the BID said:

“This successful ballot result opens up great opportunities for local businesses to act on solutions for the future of their town centre. Up and down the country BIDs are making a real difference not only to businesses that fund them, but to those who live, work and visit in BID locations. With over 320 BIDs nationally, Crawley businesses have embraced the model as the most appropriate to progress their town centre”.

Research with businesses in the area identified a number of improvements focused around crime reduction, feelings of safety, promotions and marketing, accessibility and business networking. The BID will commence delivery on 1st April 2020.

For more information on the Crawley Town Centre BID, please visit www.crawleytowncentrebid.co.uk

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BREAKING NEWS: Sainsbury’s to close Crawley town centre store

Published

3 days ago

on

11th September 2020

By

It has been an historic part of the town centre for decades, but now the supermarket on Queensway is to close its doors with the potential loss of jobs.

Image: Google Street View

Sainsbury’s says it has made the difficult decision after announcing it would close up to 15 supermarkets a year ago, pre-covid.

Sources close to the Crawley supermarket say that staff began finding out the news yesterday.

The supermarket said they would work with their staff at the site to try to find alternative roles within the firm.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson speaking to Crawley News 24 said,

“We have updated colleagues on the difficult decision to close our Crawley store and we are doing everything we can to find alternative roles within Sainsbury’s for those affected.

“Customers can continue to shop with us online and at our nearby stores. For example, our West Green store is a short drive away.”

Whilst a date for the closure has not been announced, some sources say it could be as soon as January ’21.

Cllr Peter Smith Cabinet member for Planning and Economic said:

“I am sorry for the staff that will lose their jobs at this difficult time when most supermarkets are reporting improving profits.

We have had enquiries from other supermarkets looking for suitable sites who may recognise that there will shortly be an additional 2500 residential homes just a short walk away from this prestigious location. We will be doing all we can to help find a quality occupier as soon as we can.”

Crawley Councillor Francis Guidera said:

“It is tremendously saddening to read that one of the original major shops in the town centre is closing. A lot of housing provision is currently being created in the town centre area and there is an increasing, not decreasing need for food retailers in the town centre.

We haven’t even begun to knock down the administrative offices of the town hall which will be replaced by a huge apartment block, and they are still building the first apartment block on the former council car park as I type this! I genuinely hope that another food retailer grabs the huge opportunity to take on that store.”

The news comes just one after one of the most iconic town centre independent store, P&J Sweets also announced they were to close.

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