A Sunderland road is taking back the highstreet and encouraging people to shop local after joining a city wide scheme.
As part of the Villette Road Community Improvement District (CID) initiative’s community wealth building objective, the CID has partnered with Sunderland BID to sign up traders offering household essentials and fresh food to Hendon residents.
The move means those eligible for the targeted household support scheme will be able to get fresh produce on Villette Road for the first time with Geo. Franklins Butcher, Mullers Baker and HJ Convenience signed up.
Back on the Map CEO Joanne Cooper says it’s all part of helping Villette Road get back to its past glory.
“We’ve got some great businesses on Villette Road, a lot of them owned by people who live in the community. Anyway the CID initiative can help local businesses and residents is fantastic.”
Cooper continued:
“With money staying on the street and in local pockets we’re hoping it will be a shot in the arm to kickstart the highstreet revolution. If we can show that ”
The community wealth building scheme is aimed at keeping Hendon resident’s money in Hendon, in turn increasing footfall to local independent businesses and helping create a stronger local economy and community.
The community wealth building is the latest effort from the CID initiative to emerge from regular traders meetings. The forums which take place each month started in July, and have already seen visual improvements to the street including planted flowers and buying card readers for traders.
Villette Road in Hendon is one of five national CID pilots along with Ipswich, Milton Keynes, Skelmersdale and Stretford, Greater Manchester.