Why are you investing time, money and effort into regenerating Yeovil town centre?
We carried out a study in 2018 to understand the town’s needs. It showed that several developments were required to improve the town and transform how it functions. In 2020, the town was not meeting the community’s needs because it was still designed around how people lived 50 years ago.
Yeovil is the main market town in South Somerset. We want every visitor to have a positive experience and feel encouraged to return.
However, the town centre is not just a place to visit. We want to create opportunities for people to live there by providing a mix of housing. More residents will support local shops and help create a vibrant town centre that attracts visitors and businesses. A wider range of places to eat and drink is also important. This will help both independent and national businesses thrive in Yeovil.
What are you trying to do?
We focused on four areas of work:
- Public realm – We will improve and rebuild the main streets so they work better for everyone and are less dominated by traffic. This includes creating new public spaces at the Triangle, improving the Borough, and making streets easier to use and navigate.
- Major Development sites – We support plans to redevelop the Old Cattle Market and Glovers Walk. We also want to bring new workplaces and business space into the town centre.
- Transport Systems – We aim to improve the road network and make it easier for people to walk and cycle. Our plans also include a new bus station and support for local bus services.
- Activities and events – We support a range of events, activities and initiatives in the town centre. These will encourage more people to visit, support local businesses and strengthen the town centre economy.
When will we see work happen?
We have worked on all four areas of the programme since 2021.
We have completed most of the public realm improvements. We plan to carry out a small number of remaining works in 2027.
e have demolished the Glovers Walk site and are developing plans to regenerate the area. See the Frequently Asked Questions under the Glovers Walk section of the website for more information.
We have also completed improvements to active travel routes for walking and cycling.
Where is all the money coming from for the Yeovil Refresh project and the work?
Funding for the Yeovil Refresh programme comes from a combination of council funding, developer contributions and government grants.
The council has committed funding through its budget and the planned sale of land and assets that are no longer needed. We have also secured contributions from developers through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 agreements.
We have received funding from two government programmes:
Future High Streets Fund – Yeovil was one of the first 50 towns selected to receive funding through the Future High Streets Fund. We secured almost £9.5 million, which has helped deliver a range of improvement projects across the town.
Active Travel 2 – This funding supported improvements for walking and cycling in the town centre and along Lyde Road.
Why are you not filling the empty shops in the town centre?
We do not own most of the premises in the town centre. In fact, the council only owns the former Wilko store. Property owners are responsible for letting their vacant retail units.
Town centres across the country are changing. The traditional model of rows of shops no longer meets people’s needs in the same way it once did. Our aim is to create a town centre that offers a mix of homes, services, leisure opportunities and shops.
This approach reflects changing lifestyles and shopping habits, including the growth of online retail. A more varied town centre can attract residents, visitors and businesses, helping to support the local economy.
Can you not simply reduce the business rates to get more businesses in the town centre?
No. Central Government sets business rates and determines the rateable values used to calculate them. The council cannot set or change either of these.
You can find more information about business rates on the Government’s business rates guidance pages.
Surely you can help businesses in the town centre?
Yes. We can offer Business Rates Relief to businesses that meet the eligibility criteria.
You can check whether your business qualifies on our Business Rates reliefs and exemptions webpage. This page explains the schemes available and how to apply.
I made a comment during a consultation that opposed what you have decided to do. Why haven't I been listened to?
We considered every comment received during the consultation process when making decisions about the Yeovil Refresh programme.
People often have different views, so we used a range of evidence to inform our decisions. This included feedback from consultations, recommendations from council officers, and advice from independent specialists and technical experts.
The Yeovil Refresh Board reviewed the proposals before making recommendations. Relevant committees, including Executive and Full Council, then considered and formally approved the decisions.
Why have you removed disabled parking from the town centre?
We want the town centre to be accessible, safe and welcoming for everyone.
During the consultation process, people raised concerns about traffic on Middle Street. Many felt that traffic levels made the area less safe and less pleasant for pedestrians. In response, we introduced a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to restrict vehicle access and reduce traffic in the street.
As part of these changes, we removed some disabled parking bays to reduce the number of vehicles using the area.
We also reviewed the layout of Middle Street, particularly where it narrows as it joins the Borough. To improve access and make it easier for people to move around, we widened the pavement and created more space for pedestrians.
These improvements required the removal of parking bays on the north side of the street. We relocated some designated bays to nearby Union Street and retained parking bays on the south side of Middle Street.
What parking is available in the town centre?
We have a range of car parks, on street parking and private car parks in the town. We know from survey work that these are rarely full and most usually have spare capacity. In the council car parks we have designated blue badge bays and a range of on street provision. Quedam also provide significant parking and host a Shopmobility service.
For blue badge holders, there are a range of designated bays in central streets, council car parks and private car parks. Blue badge holders can of course also use their badge to park on double yellow lines where this isn’t creating an obstruction or in a dangerous position.
How will changing the public realm attract people to the town? We need decent shops.
The appearance of a town centre plays an important role in shaping people’s experience of a place. If visitors have a positive experience, they are more likely to return in the future.
An attractive, welcoming and well-maintained town centre can also help attract new investment. Strong visitor numbers and a vibrant environment make the town more appealing to retailers, restaurants and other businesses considering a new location.
Improving the town centre can also give independent businesses greater confidence to invest and grow. A diverse mix of shops, services, food and drink venues, and leisure opportunities helps create a thriving town centre that benefits residents, visitors and businesses alike.
I'm a business owner and want to set up shop in the town centre. What should I do?
We’ve set up a dedicated area in our Yeovil Refresh information that can help you: Business in Yeovil.