North Kesteven District Council’s vision for Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park is ‘a premier strategic employment park servicing Sleaford’s ambition for economic and employment growth, meeting the needs of fast growing local businesses in key sectors and facilitating inward investment’.

The authority purchased the site in May 2017 in order to bring forward this Strategic Employment Site, as categorised in the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan, for economic development. The site has, for a number of reasons, failed to be delivered by the market.

Since acquisition, North Kesteven has been progressing plans for the site and secured a hybrid planning consent in March 2021. Following a procurement exercise, a contract was let to deliver the strategic utilities and infrastructure for the site. Works commenced on site at the start of August 2022, and Phase One has now been completed, which comprises of plots one and three. The units have been handed over to North Kesteven District Council and Smith’s Construction will be off site by the end of the year, ready for the new tenants to move in at the start of 2024.

Currently all units in plot three are under offer, but there are still vacant units on plot one. To get in touch or register your interest today, please contact Eddisons inc. Banks Long & Co by calling 01522 544515 or emailing [email protected]

  Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park brochure

SMEP Brochure Phase One brochure

     Privacy Notice SMEP Agency Services

Plot 1 – Smith Construction

Plot 1 – Smith Construction

Plot 3 – Smith Construction

Plot 3 – Smith Construction

Public realm comprises the external places within our towns that are accessible to all. These are the everyday spaces where we live, work and play. The 2010 Sleaford Masterplan and, more recently, the 2015 Sleaford Visioning report both stress the importance of improving Sleaford’s public realm to transform the town centre environment.

Sleaford town centre has plans for significant change and regeneration in the coming years and these developments will influence how the public realm is utilised going forward. This changing environment, set against the prohibitively high costs of delivering permanent public realm solutions, has led to the Economic Development Team commissioning a piece of work to explore what can be done to improve and enliven the public realm in the short term – Pop Up Public Landscape.

Pop Up projects, by their nature, are intended to be temporary, inclusive, low-cost, high impact and quick to deliver. The projects are designed to activate spaces and improve the environment whilst supporting businesses and the wider local economy ahead of the longer term regeneration schemes. Pop Up Landscapes, whilst on the surface may appear frivolous, have been proven across the UK to have the potential to attract more visitors and investment to an area.

In 2018, we implemented the first phase of Pop Up Public Landscape in Market Place, Riverside and Southgate, with the planning of phase two already underway.

Based on recent suggestions from residents and visitors, we have moved some of the coloured cubes to new locations outside Costa and in front of The Source café at Riverside Church.  The purple serpentine seat has been moved next to Hadley’s Monument and two new large coloured planters, with wider seats, have been installed in Navigation Yard.

You can give us your feedback on the Pop Up Public Landscape on Twitter by using the hashtag #popupsleaford or by emailing us at [email protected].

This partnership project funded by the European Regional Development Fund, South Kesteven District Council, North Kesteven District Council, Environment Agency, and National Trust is designed to restore and reconnect the river and river corridors through the urban reaches of both Grantham and Sleaford.

For more information on this project please see here.

The Heart of Sleaford is an ambitious Town Centre Regeneration project which aims to create a new destination in the centre of Sleaford.

Plans for a cinema on the site have been disrupted by COVID-19 with independent operators throughout the UK hit hard. As the sector recovers we hope that a cinema can be secured for the town centre but this setback doesn’t weaken the Council’s resolve to work with the landowner to redevelop the HOS site and deliver the pedestrian link from Money’s Yard to Market Place via a pedestrian footbridge over the River Slea, connecting the site to Southgate via Bristol Arcade.

The project will include the redevelopment of 25b Southgate and parts of Moneys Yard and includes about 1/3 acre to the rear of the Grade 2 listed Corn Exchange. The Heart of Sleaford project forms an important part of the Town Centre Masterplan refresh funded by the Government’s Welcome Back Fund which will scope the opportunities to broaden and revive the town centre offer in response to the changing retail landscape and the ravages of the pandemic.

At the core of Made in Sleaford is the desire to bring businesses and the community together, giving companies the opportunity to raise their profile, promote themselves to potential customers and suppliers and attract potential recruits and apprentices.

Coupled with this, each year companies have worked alongside the Council to create specially-designed workshops for school children in the STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – subjects.

Sleaford is the home of world class businesses in different industrial sectors – from manufacturing to food and farming, computing and design, while there is also a thriving arts and crafts sector making furniture, musical instruments, jewellery and ceramics.

Its proud history stretches back more than 2,000 years.

Made in Sleaford celebrates the importance of manufacturing, design and engineering in the town.

Organised by North Kesteven District Council, the two-day event was first held in 2015 in the area around the National Centre for Craft and Design and Navigation Wharf – the heart of the town’s industrial heritage – and was such a success it was repeated in 2016. In 2018, Made in Sleaford was at the Heckington Show to market the brand to support growth.

The aim of the festival is to give visitors the chance find out what the town has to offer and is open to any Sleaford-based business that makes and sells products commercially.

Recognising skills and entrepreneurship are vital ingredients in a balanced, growing local economy, the event also hopes to inspire youngsters to consider careers in business by connecting them with products made by local companies with big ambitions. Sleaford is a place of serious opportunity and there are some great businesses to work for.

Part of our strategic plan is to develop Sleaford as a brand, to endorse it as a place to come to and for locals to have pride in. We have been developing a brand for Sleaford with support of the Sleaford Regeneration Group to use it as a way to communicate and to promote Sleaford to both internal and external audiences. We welcome businesses and the local community to use the Sleaford brand which is already being used on bus shelters and the recent Pop up Public Realm installation.

If you are a Sleaford based business interested in using the Sleaford Brand see Georgia’s contact details on the Our Team section.

Under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), grants are now available to owners and occupiers of commercial properties within Sleaford town centre. The purpose of the grant scheme is to help reverse the decline and enhance the historic environment in Sleaford conservation area through offering funding towards targeted repairs, reinstatement and replacements of shopfronts. The scheme will focus on reinstating lost or damaged features of historic properties, with a particular emphasis on reinstating traditional shop fronts where modern frontages have been installed.

However, grants are available for a wide range of works and can extend to other elements of building frontages, including on upper levels, such as the repair and replacement of windows and doors, roof repairs, repairs/renewal of leadwork, repair or replacement of rainwater goods, structural and non-structural repairs to external walls, brickwork/stonework cleaning, repair or replacement of external features such as masonry and repainting. Grants can also be used towards repaired or replaced shopfront fascias and signage in line with the Sleaford Shopfront Design Guide.

A fund of £150,000 is available and grants can be offered at up to 90% of the total cost of works. Further details of the grant scheme, including terms and conditions, are available by contacting the Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire at [email protected] or by emailing [email protected] and quoting ‘Sleaford shopfront grant’ and we encourage you to get in touch to explore the possibilities which the grant can offer.

North Kesteven District Council has been allocated £3.2 million from the £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

Government approved North Kesteven District Council’s investment plan in December 2022. Delivery of the UKSPF programme is now underway and engagement with the community will continue through the implementation phase, with all schemes complete by March 2025. To stay up to date on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund please sign up to our Levelling Up e-newsletter. Alternatively, updates will be shared HERE.

NKDC Investment Plan submission 

UKSPF Project List

Sleaford took part in the 2023 Magic Tenner event, a new Totally Locally national campaign for independent high streets and businesses which took place from 7 October until 21 October.

The campaign aims to show how spending £10 in a local independent can mean up to £50 going back into the local economy (based on this study from The New Economics Foundation). It really is like magic!

There were lots of amazing £10 offers from local shops and businesses in Sleaford, The following businesses took part in Sleaford’s Totally Locally Magic Tenner:

Beautifully Handmade Gift shop, in Bristol Arcade in Sleaford, which supports 20 other local businesses. Their offer is: buy any two Lulabel hair accessories for £10

Market Square Cafe and Restaurant, which is located in Sleaford’s Market Place and supports 13 businesses. Their offer is: a mini afternoon tea for £10, which includes a sandwich and a slice of cake, from selected sandwiches and cakes only, a fruit scone and a regular filter coffee or pot of tea.

Glow Suntan Centre, in Millstream Square in Sleaford. Their offer is: 12 minutes on the sunbed for £10.

The Queens Head Coffee Shop in Kesteven Street in Sleaford. Their offer is: breakfast or lunch for two for £10.

Alexandras Boutique on Southgate in Sleaford. Their offer is: all styles of their bobble hats are reduced from £12-£15 to £10.

Appetites, in Bristol Arcade in Sleaford. Their offer is: any two filled rolls (excluding double deckers) and any two hot drinks to eat in, for £10.

Cogglesford Watermill, off Eastgate in Sleaford supports six local independent businesses. Their offer is: 1.5kg wholemeal and 1.5kg white flour, a history book, plum bread and a postcard for £10.

Glitz and Glamour Boutique, on Southgate in Sleaford. Their offer is: 10% off selected items.

Ruth Burrows Illustration, at Navigation Wharf in Sleaford Their offer is: Sleaford mug, two coasters and a postcard for £10.

The Hutch Shop, Millstream Square in Sleaford. Their offer is: a selection of travel harnesses for £10, reduced from £19.99.

After the huge success of last year’s event, Sleaford was once again brought to life with a vibrant celebration of the towns culture and creativity. RiverLight took place on Saturday 21 October, with fringe events running from Saturday 14 October. A date for next years festival has been announced the 2024 festival finale will take place from Saturday 15 to Saturday 22 June 2024, keep your eyes peeled for updates as planning commences!

The RiverLight Festival received £77,000 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This money has been distributed by North Kesteven District Council, under the Events Programme.

Creature Comforts by Feet off the Ground

Out of the Deep by Austin Dance Theatre

The Pedal Powered Cinema showing animated films produced by local school children

Safari-So-Goody by Rhubarb Theatre

Treemendous by Megabeast

Italian Chalking Art with Urban Canvas

Young traders can apply to sell their creations and showcase their talent alongside established sellers at Millstream Square’s markets throughout 2024.

The Teenage Market is a nationwide initiative which enables young people to put their entrepreneurial skills into practice, by providing them with space to turn their business ideas into innovative products and services. It’s also an opportunity for young performers – including musicians, dancers and entertainers – to showcase their talents and help create a vibrant atmosphere for high street shoppers.

Organisers behind Millstream Square’s popular artisan and craft markets in Sleaford have kindly agreed to facilitate at least four new Teenage Market stalls within their events planned for 2024. It means local young people will be able to try out selling their crafts and products or perform alongside the established traders at these Millstream Square markets, bringing their enthusiasm and energy to these already bustling events.

Anyone aged between the ages of 13 and 21 can apply for a stall at the Teenage Market, but anyone aged 16 or under must be accompanied by an adult. The first event will be held on Saturday May 4 from 10am to 3pm at Millstream Square, with traders able to set up from 8.30am on the day.

Getting involved couldn’t be simpler. Create your profile at www.theteenagemarket.co.uk and from there you can apply to take part in each Teenage Market event in Sleaford as it comes up. Once signed up to the platform, you’ll be notified when new events are listed.

The Teenage Market is being funded for one-year as part of North Kesteven District Council’s Events Programme, receiving £2,775 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.