As a part of Historic England’s High Streets Heritage Action Zones (HAZ) programme, a consultation is going on to create a design guide which will help improve the look of commercial shopfronts across Ryde and Newport.
The guide aims to promote the conservation and restoration of high-quality commercial frontages for healthy historic high streets.
Many issues can be addressed
Some of the many issues that the new guidance could address include the design of shopfronts, sign colours, the use of hanging signs, sensitive conversion of shops to residential units, shopfront lighting, and the use of awnings and canopies.
The guidance is likely to be used to create similar guides for other parts of the Island in the future.
Draft guide published for comment
The Isle of Wight Council and partners Historic England, Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council and Ryde Town Council have already been seeking input from businesses and organisations and now a draft guide has been published that is open for public comments.
A final version is expected to be published in January 2022.
Jones-Evans: It can make a positive difference as our retail and business areas change and develop
Cllr Julie Jones-Evans said,
“Our High Streets and town centres are vital to the economic regeneration of the Isle of Wight, but we can’t make them work if we compromise them with unattractive and ineffective shops and buildings.
“Agreeing how we want shops and businesses to present themselves is an important step towards revitalising these important retail areas.
“It won’t be an overnight fix, but I know from the many comments and suggestions we have already had that people take this issue seriously and understand why it can make a positive difference as our retail and business areas change and develop.
“We have seen that this is an approach that has been very successful in historic towns elsewhere in the country, and I’m looking forward to businesses in Ryde and Newport getting the benefit of these improvements.”
Have your say
The consultation closes on the 7th January 2022.
The draft Newport and Ryde Commercial Frontages Design Guide document, and information on how to respond to the consultation can be found on the Website.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
