Surveyors welcome funding focus on St Neots

Stephen Power, Director, Barker Storey Matthews

The Huntingdon office of a national chartered surveying practice has welcomed the announcement that the Cambridgeshire town of St Neots is applying to benefit from a slice of central government funding allocated to help the country’s high streets.

Barker Storey Matthews – now part of Eddisons chartered surveyors – has joined other local businesses in anticipating Huntingdonshire District Council’s bid success in securing funding to boost St Neots town centre through the Future High Street Funds (FHSF) initiative.

Success in the bid would mean accessing a pot of over £5 million of central funding to use, with other public funds, to invest in St Neots’ public spaces.

Barker Storey Matthews has clients with a number of new development interests in and around the town including Wintringham Park, in addition to acting as an agent under instruction on a number of commercial business premises in St Neot’s key business districts – such as Eaton Socon.

While welcoming the District Council’s announcement of its bid for funds for St Neots, Barker Storey Matthews also recognises the need for investment in towns across the district including Ramsey and Huntingdon – the latter being where the firm has its local office, on High Street.

Commenting further, Stephen Power, Director, Barker Storey Matthews, said, “We have a long-standing association with commercial operators in St Neots – investors, developers, landlords and business occupiers.

“The announcement of the latest bid for central government funding sees the town poised to raise its profile and further enhance the town for both business occupiers and residents.

“It’s important that public and private interests work in tandem to maximise the opportunity any central funding may bring.

“Improved access through St Neots, particularly to and from the railway station, will further boost the area’s appeal to private investors.

“This, in turn, could unlock other commercial development and investment opportunities in other key locations across the Huntingdonshire district.”