Cultural consultant joins the Newton Abbot regeneration team

A specialist cultural consultant has joined the team driving forward the multi million pound regeneration of Newton Abbot town centre with engagement on implementation plans gathering pace with traders, cultural and community groups in the coming weeks.

Event and festival director Emma Twamley, who masterminded and directs the award winning Glas-Denbury Music and Arts festival, will bring her cultural knowledge and experience to help drive the delivery of the project’s cultural, artistic and community aspects of the markets quarter vision.

She will work alongside council officers and leading independent consultancy Quarterbridge which has Europe-wide expertise in delivering retail and food hall projects and has successfully delivered market hall schemes across the UK.

Welcoming the appointment, Executive Member for Business, Economy and Tourism Cllr Nina Jeffries said:  “This is really good news for Newton Abbot. We have a good team of specialists helping us to deliver the ambitious plans which attracted £9 million from the Government’s Future High Street fund.

Under these plans, approved by councillors last year, historic landmark buildings will be restored to echo their original identity by opening up the Market and Food Hall, Alexandra Cinema and the Market Square to include a new eating quarter, a state of the art cinema, a remodelled entertainment and events venue and a high quality market space.  Significant improvements to Queen Street and the National Cycle Network Route are being made to maximise pedestrian and cycling access.

This month will see engagement with traders, arts and cultural groups to make sure that the plans approved by councillors last year are implemented in a way that maximises the benefits for the community and businesses. 

In helping to ensure the multi-purpose venue has the flexibility to accommodate different types of cultural performance, Ms Twamley will help the council to deliver its goal of building on the 800 year history of Newton Abbot as a market town by appealing to a wider range of audiences and establishing facilities which will appeal to residents and visitors. 

National reports published last year by The Arts Council and KPMG highlighted the importance of mixed use and the role arts and culture play as key drivers in regenerating town centres by boosting footfall and economic activity.

Ms Twamley said:  “I’m excited about this opportunity to create this fantastic cultural centre in Newton Abbot, which can be used by so many different people and groups, in so many different ways. It will be able to provide a wide range of opportunity and entertainment for local people as well as no doubt attracting more people to the town and I very much look forward to being a part of the discussions on the specific needs of everyone from traders, arts, cultural and community groups.”

Cllr Jeffries added:  “Newton Abbot can be Devon’s Premier Market Town and as we move into a new economic landscape, we need to be showcasing to visitors what a wonderful vibrant place Teignbridge is. Residents are extremely proud of what Teignbridge has to offer and 2022 is set to be an exciting year for the town”.

Note to Editors

Emma Twamley.  As a director of Skyhigh Promotions Ltd and her work with GlasDenbury and local community events and programmes, Emma has strong local knowledge and experience across performance, arts, culture and community involvement.  GlasDenbury won Gold for Festival of the Year at the Visit Devon Tourism Awards 2019 and 2018 and Silver in 2017.  It also won Bronze in the 2019/20 South West Tourism Excellence Awards.  Emma is also a mentor for the Powderham Live! Program.

Quarterbridge has a proven track record of providing design, development and business planning advice for market operators, traders, developers, retail landlords and local authorities. It draws on its experience within the UK and abroad to provide innovative solutions. Quarterbridge are approved consultants to the National Market Traders Federation and members of the Association of Town & City Management and Institute of Place Management.