North Yorkshire Council
Corporate Director of Community Development
27 February 2026
Permission to apply for funding to support Richmond Market Square from Local Authority High Street Fund
Report of the Head of Regeneration
1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 To seek approval for the submission of an application to support Richmond Market Square to the Local Authority High Street Fund for funding of £250,000 from the Director Community Development in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer sub-delegated to the Assistant Director- Resources.
2.0 SUMMARY
2.1 The report recommends that North Yorkshire Council apply for grant funding of £250,000 from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA) to support Richmond Market Square from the Local Authority High Street Fund, a fund set up to support projects emerging from the Town Investment Plans programme.
3.0 BACKGROUND
3.1 On 06 May 2025 the North Yorkshire Executive committee made the decision to accept funding from YNYCA for The Town Investment Plan (TIP) programme which will develop tailored investment plans for 32 towns and key service centres across North Yorkshire. These plans will provide a strategic, co-ordinated approach to regeneration and investment at a place-based level. They will help the Council and its partners to understand investment priorities and provide a structured focus for future business cases and investment decisions.
3.2 As part of YNYCA commitment to the programme, a fund has been created to support capital projects emerging from the TIP programme. The Local Authorities of North Yorkshire and York are eligible to bid for funding. The project list for the Local Authority High Street fund was considered by the Growth Board on 18 Dec 2025 who supported the applications going forward.
3.3 Regeneration and Localities Officers have reviewed evidence and carried out community consultation in Richmond. This highlighted the need to increased dwell time, inclusivity and feelings of safety in the town centre to increase spend and return visits for locals and for visitors as an investment priority for Richmond. Officers worked with stakeholders and relevant council services to develop a project proposal for Richmond Market Square to address this need.
4.0 RICHMOND MARKET SQUARE
4.1 The funding will be used to deliver the first phase of improvements to Richmond Market Square, with an ambition to increase dwell time, improve perceptions and feelings of safety and creating a more inclusive space in the heart of the town.
4.2 The overwhelming use of the square for parking, paired with its historic significance, made Richmond Market Square an emerging priority. Improvements would look to begin to shift the square’s primary function away from parking toward a hub for visitors, residents and businesses, drawing in footfall and increasing dwell time.
4.3 If successful, the funding will be used to purchase and install improved seating and planting in the square. These will become the responsibility of the town council, pending detailed discussion. No scheme exists where North Yorkshire Council become the responsible body for the outcome of this funding.
4.4 The total project value is £250,000 of which the total amount will be applied for from LA High Street Fund
5.0 CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN AND RESPONSES
5.1 As part of the project development Internally consultation took place with the design, and conservation teams, as well as the highways department, through lead contact Steve Brown, Head of Parking. The exact details of locations and styles will continue to be discussed with a range of internal departments, including extensive further discussion with the policy and operational aspects of Highways. External engagement has also taken place with the town council and will continue to take place as the details of a scheme emerge in line with the success or failure of funding bids.
5.2. Legal have assigned a main contact in relation to the grant application process.
5.3 Community and business engagement has been undertaken as part of the TIP programme and demonstrated support for the type of intervention that this project will address.
6.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
6.1 On going revenue implications have been considered as part of the project development. After completion the asset will be the liability of the town council, with whom we have already agreed to take the final designs to their full council meeting for final agreement, who will take on all maintenance and ongoing revenue implications
7.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
7.1 Grant terms and conditions are not available at the present time but will be reviewed by Legal Services when released, should the bid be successful. If any of the grant terms and conditions present unacceptable risk for the Council then the grant offer would be declined.
8.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
8.1 There are no Equalities implications from submitting the application. Equalities implications will be re-appraised if the application is successful as part of the acceptance procedure
9.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
9.1 There are no Climate Change implications from submitting the application. Climate and sustainability implications will be reappraised if the application is successful as part of the acceptance procedure
10.0 CONCLUSIONS
10.1 That the Council makes an application to the Local Authority High Street to cover the costs of delivering the Richmond Market Square
11.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
11.1 The funding will contribute towards a need identified as part of the Town Investment Plan programme. The relevant council services have been consulted, and revenue implications have been considered.
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12.0 |
RECOMMENDATION
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12.1 |
That the Corporate Director Community Development in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer sub-delegated to the Assistant Director – Resources approve the submission of the grant of £250,000
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Appendices – None
Background Documents - None
Helen Jackson
Head of Regeneration
25 February 2026
Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.