Council Secures £710,000 for City Centre Recovery 

Cambridge City Council has successfully led a bid for £710,000 of capital funding to support the recovery of Cambridge city centre from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The partnership bid involving the city council, Cambridge Business Improvement District, Fitzwilliam Museum (Enterprises) Ltd and Cambridgeshire County Council, was approved today by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

As part of the Cambridge Visitor Welcome 2021 programme, funding will be invested in physical measures to improve Cambridge’s visitor offer and experience, to attract visitors back and help to support the local retail, hospitality and cultural sector recovery.

Improvements will include:

• More outdoor seating
• A mobile ‘pop up’ visitor information centre
• Digital wayfinding and signage
• Improved street furniture and outdoor lighting

Cllr Rosy Moore, Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Environment and City Centre, said:

“Coronavirus has dealt a big blow to businesses in Cambridge city centre, some of which have experienced the toughest of times. We know this has been felt particularly by those depending on tourism from overseas and visitors who come from elsewhere in the UK.

Investment to enhance the day and night-time economy and attract people back is a really important part of supporting the recovery of our retail, hospitality and cultural sectors and the funding secured today will help us to work with our partners to make real, tangible improvements.”

Commenting on the announcement Ian Sandison CEO of Cambridge BID said:

“We are delighted to be involved in this partnership, since the first lockdown we have been working closely with Cambridge City Council and the Combined Authority supporting the reopening of the city and this funding will provide a vital boost to the visitor economy as we look optimistically towards 2021 and welcoming visitors back to our city”