Front Street is an important high street in Acomb, York. It plays a vital role in the community and the wider city and is home to many established and well-loved local independent retailers and community spaces.
There has been a long-standing desire to undertake place making improvements to enhance the economic growth of this shopping area.
In recent years, funding has been received from central government to enhance, develop and support a more resilient high street in Acomb.
Acomb Front Street timeline
2017: The council’s Executive set aside £100,000 to be split equally between Acomb and Haxby shopping areas. This money was spent on immediate measures to improve the street scene and footfall, including Christmas lights, ADAM music festival, recycling centre, flower tubs, and funded a study to consider physical improvements for longer term impact.
2020: 1,200 residents, businesses and visitors respond to an initial consultation and visioning work on the future of Front Street, telling us what they loved about Acomb Front Street and also what they'd like to change.
April 2022: The resulting Future of Acomb Front Street Study set out a 10 to 15 year vision and proposed 10 potential longer-term ideas to improve the area. The council’s Executive noted the Study and agreed that these ideas would be subject to further feasibility and engagement should funding become available.
December 2022: £395,000 funding secured from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to deliver highway improvements on Front Street.
Early 2023: Phase 1 highway improvements on Front Street carried out to address some of the needs identified in engagement feedback, including:
- repairing the uneven pavement and damaged drainage
- addressing illegal parking
- improving the rundown appearance
- installing new styles of accessible seating, a ‘Happy to Chat Bench’, and cycle racks
October 2023: £570,000 of additional funding agreed, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to invest in further work to improve the area.
February 2024: Executive Member for Transport and Economy agrees to engagement exercise to explore how this money can best be spent. The Acomb Front Street Phase 2 consultation closed on Sunday 24 March 2024.