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Council adopts Culture and Visitor Economy Strategy

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Rochford District Council has adopted a new Culture and Visitor Economy Strategy that will support creative and tourism businesses in the District.

This strategy is designed to move the cultural and visitor economy forward over the next 5 years. Rochford District Council will be seeking to work with partners, stakeholders, businesses and the local community. The strategy aims to promote the role culture plays in the lives of local people and to grow the visitor economy sector locally. A new programme of cultural, heritage and tourism activities will contribute to the District’s economy and support a range of local businesses including those in hospitality, retail and accommodation.

A wide group of stakeholders were consulted in the development of the strategy, which was commissioned through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. A public survey that ran from August to September generated 1,100 responses about the community’s views on the future of culture, arts, heritage, and tourism in the District.

As part of the strategy consultation, meaningful market research was collected regarding two large cultural assets in the Council’s ownership, The Mill Arts & Events Centre and The Freight House. The Council is working on developing separate businesses cases for the future of these two important assets in the District. 

Councillor Michael Hoy, Chair of the Economic Development, Regeneration and Tourism Committee at Rochford District Council, said: “In respect of The Freight House, the Council has established a cross-party task and finish group which will oversee the project with the next step to carry out a full feasibility study, which is likely to be completed in the early months of 2025. We know that the Freight House is key to the regeneration and cultural offer of Rochford. The study will look not only at the building and surrounding car parks but also at how the green spaces and reservoir around it can be further enhanced for local people and visitors alike to enjoy.  Also, the Council is reviewing the cost of legislation and health and safety to re-open The Freight House for an interim period once this review is completed.”

Work continues on the development of a robust and sustainable future operating model for The Mill Arts & Events Centre which will be reported to The Mill Hall Working Group by the end of March 2025.

Read the full Culture and Visitor Economy Strategy.