Welcome

‘Outstanding’ Brentwood High Street Improvement Scheme Complete

The official opening of the new Brentwood High Street took place on Friday 11^th December with the unveiling of a plaque outside Iceland.

Brentwood High Street has once again become one of the ‘most outstanding high streets in the East of England’, thanks to the completion of a multi million pound scheme.

Carried out by Essex County Council, working with partners Brentwood Renaissance and Brentwood Borough Council, the improvement scheme saw pavements made wider, better access for the disabled and the upgrading of the high street to meet new high standards across the board.

The opening ceremony saw Lord Hanningfield, Leader of Essex County Council, Erick Pickles, MP for Brentwood and Ongar, Cllr Norman Hume, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Louise McKinlay, Leader of Brentwood Council and others unveil the plaque on the impressive new High Street.

The project, which cost £7.2million, was carried out following much consultation with local businesses, organisations and residents and was completed in 8 months.

The High Street now features greener spaces, a 20mph zone for all vehicles, improved and more sensitive lighting, extra seating and improved facilities for litter, chewing gum and cigarette stubs, improved disabled parking and wider pavements.

It has been reconstructed using the highest quality materials including granite and Yorkstone and with high quality street furniture installed to conserve and enhance the heritage of the High Street.

Cllr Roger Walters, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said, “This has been a huge project for Brentwood and I am pleased to say that we have delivered.

“We wanted to deliver one of the most outstanding high streets in the East of England, and with such high quality materials and workmanship we have reflected the heritage as well as future of Brentwood.

“Essex County Council is investing in our town centres and high streets which we believe form the heart of our communities and through close working with our local partners at Brentwood council and Brentwood Renaissance, we are delighted to have delivered a truly outstanding local high street”.

Alan Cherry, Chairman of Brentwood Renaissance, said, “Brentwood has always been a fantastic place to visit and shop with one of the best selections of traders in any High Street, but we really wanted to go further and make Brentwood an extraordinary destination.

“Essex County Council has delivered and we now have a High Street which is probably the best in Essex and which really is a superb asset to Brentwood and South Essex.”

Councillor Louise McKinlay, Leader of Brentwood Borough Council, said, “I am getting feedback from shop owners and residents on how delighted they are with the High Street and I am too.

“Brentwood High Street has a very special character and through working closely with Essex County Council we have seen that preserved and enhanced so that Brentwood will improve its status on the visitor and shopping map of Essex well into the future.”

Work to revitalise the High Street has delivered:

• An entirely reconstructed 600 metre surface along the High Street
• High quality design using quality materials such as granite
• Improvement of adjoining shopping streets
• Enhancement junctions to reduce congestion
• Improved pedestrian crossing points
• Enhanced bus waiting areas with real time information
• Reduced congestion through the creation of an effective bypass around the High Street

Further discussions are underway with key partners over a longer term programme of enhancements which will follow the delivery of the initial High Street Scheme.

Progress Photographs

Brentwood Town Centre Renaissance Group