March town centre regeneration enters final phase

Five-night closure of Broad Street from Monday, 23 September, to enable final road and mini roundabout surfacing.

Over £8.4million has been invested to help the town adapt to the changing retail environment and meet the needs of current and future generations as the town continues to grow.

The once-in-a-generation scheme has included the revamp of March Market Place, riverside enhancement works, improvement grants for businesses and the major transformation of Broad Street to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and create a more open, social, and pedestrian-friendly town centre.

The finishing touches are now being made to the Broad Street project including the installation of the permanent road and new mini roundabout surface.

A temporary evening closure of Broad Street is necessary to enable the resurfacing works to take place quickly, safely and with minimum disruption.

Works will commence on Monday, 23 September, and will be in place for five consecutive nights (from 8pm to 6am) until the road is fully resurfaced - weather permitting. An evening diversion will be in operation during this time and will be well sign-posted.

The regeneration work has been delivered by Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council with funding from the Government's Future High Streets Fund, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and the County Council's March Area Transport Study (MATS).

The Broad Street project, which started in June 2023, has included work to enhance public safety, with new zebra crossings, and add colour with new planters and trees, which will finish being installed in the coming weeks.

It has also included the restoration and relocation of March's historic fountain, which will return to its new, more accessible public space next month.

The repaving work is largely completed and over the next few weeks the site compound and barriers will be gradually removed.

As part of Fenland District Council's Future High Streets Fund grant, two buildings in the town centre have also been refurbished and revitalised, resulting in improvements to frontages and vacant buildings brought back into use. The Council has also received 30 applications to its new March Shopfront Grant Scheme launched in August.

The old Barclays Bank was also purchased as part of the regeneration programme after the prime location building became empty six months into the scheme. It will eventually be demolished and replaced with a new mixed-use development, representing an exciting opportunity for the town centre.

The public toilet block was removed as part of the regeneration work too, in order to open up the riverside area. After feedback from the public, plans for a new facility to be built were put forward with modernised disabled and family changing facilities.

A planning application for the new toilet block, to be located along the western edge of Grays Lane and the riverbank, was approved by Fenland District Council's planning committee yesterday, Wednesday 18 September. It is hoped the new facility will be built early next year. Temporary toilets in the car park of the old Barclays building will remain in use until then.

Councillor Chris Seaton, Fenland District Council's Portfolio Holder for Transport, Heritage and Culture, and lead member of the March Future High Streets steering group, said: "We are now in the final stage of the regeneration work and the whole scheme is on-track to be completed by the end of October.

"I'd like to once again thank businesses and residents in March for their incredible patience and understanding whilst this important work has been carried out. High streets up and down the country have been battling a decade of decline, but this work will help March to reverse those fortunes and futureproof the town centre for generations to come."

Cllr Steve Count, district and county ward member for March, member of the county council's March Area Transport Study (MATS) Group and member of the March Future High Streets steering group, said: "As work nears the finishing line, it's really exciting to see the transformation of our town centre take shape. This major investment into March represents not just a boost for our local economy, but a commitment from many partners to ensuring the town remains thriving and attractive for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Cllr Jan French, Deputy Leader of Fenland District Council, town, district and county ward member for March, Chair of March Area Transport Study (MATS) Group and member of the March Future High Streets steering group, said: "The regeneration of March town centre marks an exciting chapter for our community. With £8.4million invested, we're ensuring our much-loved town adapts to modern retail demands while enhancing its special character. I'm confident it will breathe new life into March, creating a town centre that is much-better equipped to reflect the needs of today while preparing for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow."

Keep up-to-date with Fenland District Council via Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and our newsletter The Fenlander.

September 2024