OUR VISION
Okehampton is very well placed on the A30 towards the northern edge of Dartmoor. It boasts many qualities that include a bustling high street, a great range of independent shops, along with three well stocked supermarkets. For those leisure days, there is an impressive Norman castle nearby, The Museum of Dartmoor Life, a cinema and the very attractive Simmons Park and Parklands Leisure Centre along with an excellent range of cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants to tease the tastebuds. And don’t forget the delights of Dartmoor on the doorstep for walking and cycling enthusiasts too! For the business community, there is a diverse range of manufacturing, industrial and service providers in the local business parks, so this town really has it all.
The area to the east of the town centre has undergone significant recent residential development along with new business parks and a much anticipated second Okehampton rail station due to complete in 2025. This along with the successful reopening of Okehampton station in November 2021 has brought increased footfall, meaning, the town is rapidly growing and increasing in vibrancy. The time is right for the business community to come together to make sure these qualities are harnessed and nurtured to continue to support the town’s economy.
The town has a lot of community projects that deliver websites, community hubs, events and Christmas lights. The newly formed Business Improvement District (BID) will build upon all this great work and deliver projects that will further market and promote the town to residents and visitors. The BID will also support the town’s businesses and foster collaboration between them and the local community. It will work together with the local authorities to tackle some of the challenges posed by the town’s growth such as traffic congestion, parking and helping people visit and move around more easily and sustainably.
The BID will therefore contribute to bringing the business and wider community together, support the high street and other businesses within the BID area, contribute to business growth and job creation while enhancing Okehampton as a place to live work and visit.
To view the BID Business Plan please click HERE
ABOUT BIDS
BIDs first came to the UK in 2005, there are now over 330 investing over £150 million in their locations.
They are created by, and for, businesses. They succeed because they are focussed, entrepreneurial and cost-efficient – providing a powerful and fast response to address ever- changing business need.
They do not replace local authority or other statutory service providers but provide additional resources. Funded by a small levy, they are first created through a ballot amongst participating businesses. Each BID has a maximum term of 5-years before the need to return to the electorate to be renewed.
As evidence of the positive effect of BIDs in the locations where they have been developed and on the businesses that operate there, over 90% are renewed with increased majorities.
BUSINESS PLAN
IMPORTANT LINKS
BID AREA
LIST OF STREETS
