Scarborough High Street Set For New Lease Of Life Under Mayoral Development Zone

A new Mayoral Development Zone aims to rejuvenate Scarborough's high street and transform the town into a year-round destination.

Scarborough's high street will undergo major regeneration as a new Mayoral Development Zone is launched to attract private investment and align public funding.

The initiative aims to bring together developers, landowners, and local authorities to revitalise the town centre. York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority members approved the investment at a cabinet meeting held at Scarborough Town Hall last week.

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, believes the town can become a blueprint for coastal regeneration.

Mr Skaith said:

"I think having been involved in High Streets for many years, the sense that High Streets are dying and that they're not there are just changing, and I think we look at the businesses such as British Home Stores and others. They haven't just left Scarborough, they've left most places.

Most High Streets have been depending on those large anchor retailers for many years and we need to create High Streets that are going to be fit for purpose now, but for generations, futures to come, and Scarborough, I see as a great opportunity to really showcase how that can be done, particularly in the coastal areas where we talk of a lot of communities in the north that get left behind. I would argue, on coastal communities, it's even more than that.

And so we've got an opportunity to show actually how Scarborough can be a way that High Streets and places in our coastal areas, which are struggling everywhere, could actually really have a new lease of life."

A key part of the collective plan involves bringing the Brunswick Centre back into use. Funding for the redevelopment will be released in two stages to protect public finances, beginning with an initial £1 million to support pre-development activities and a new planning application.

A further £6 million has been ringfenced for the construction phase, subject to a full business case.

Mr Skaith said:

"I'm backing Scarborough's ambition through our new Mayoral Development Zone. The town has so much to offer, with millions of visitors every year, good transport links and top employers, with streamlined public and private investment we know we can go so much further for residents and businesses alike."

"We are restoring pride in the heart of this iconic town. Bringing the Brunswick Centre back into use is the first landmark step for our collective plan for Scarborough Town Centre. This landmark site will rid the high street of another empty eyesore and create new jobs and opportunities for Scarborough's residents."

Alongside the Brunswick project, cabinet members approved a £1 million grant for public realm and active travel improvements along Westborough and Vernon Road. The investment aims to better connect Scarborough Railway Station with the town centre.

Mr Skaith added:

"When you've come out of the train station, the first thing is the Brunswick, and when it's like that, actually, that's your first impression is a negative one, isn't it?

I've said, we can really get that first piece when you come out the station, really fit and showcase how wonderful Scarborough is and some of the projects we've been able to fund through the High Street fund over the last year have really shown that there is a lot of energy and life and want to make the Scarborough, in particular the high street a very vibrant place."

The designation of the Mayoral Development Zone is also seen as a crucial step for broader coastal investment by local leaders.

North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Councillor Carl Les, said:

"We have identified our coastal areas as some of the most important locations for investment. The decision to establish the Mayoral Development Zone will bring benefits for the whole of Scarborough and it is also a big step towards redeveloping the Brunswick Centre."

"The aim is to create a new town centre attraction and allow Scarborough to become a year-round destination, which is what our residents and businesses have told us is important to them."

"Working in partnership offers everyone the best chance of kick-starting investment and development that provides lasting economic benefits across the local community and the wider county."