Plans to transform Whitefield are moving forward as part of a major project.

An expert from the government’s High Streets Task Force has delivered a workshop for senior council officers, businesses and community leaders in the town.

Following the visit, the task force will submit a report of their findings to help with plans to regenerate the town and identify opportunities for change.

It will feed into the developing Whitefield Town Centre Plan work being undertaken by the council and Planit-IE consultants.

A draft of the plan will be ready for further consultation with key stakeholders, including the community, from September onwards.

The visit and expert report are part of a package of support that Whitefield will continue to receive after it was selected by the government in February as one of a second group of 68 places to work directly with the task force.

Chris Wade, an appointed expert of the High Streets Task Force, led a three-hour workshop and learned about plans to transform Whitefield.

He met with senior representatives from the council, businesses and community leaders, to explain and explore local issues and ways of tackling them.

In its report, the task force "acknowledged Whitefield’s many strengths, including rich built heritage and history and its track record in successful townscape heritage initiatives including shop front restoration".

Speaking about the visit and the report’s findings, Mr Wade said: “It was really good to see the detailed preparation from the council and the positive attitude to work to improve Whitefield town centre from businesses and community groups represented.

“Work needs to be done to strengthen the identity and image of this spread-out town centre and to plan to reduce the impacts of traffic on how people can move around Whitefield.”

The expert report to Whitefield also noted the importance of the council working in a "co-ordinated way" with different partners in the town.

Mr Wade added: “It was great to see a recognition from those present that more needs to be done to get everyone working together more regularly, agreeing a joint improvement plan and then delivering quick improvements and influencing longer-term investments.”

The task force will continue to work with Whitefield through the coming months, providing a range of services to support transformation in the town.

Cllr Gareth Staples-Jones, the council’s deputy lead for strategic growth, said: “This was a great example of the council working with local businesses, community leaders and residents to put together the foundations for the Whitefield town plan.

“We know how tough the high street can be at the moment with energy costs, the cost of living crisis and rising inflation.

"The council is committed to making Whitefield an attractive destination, and the town plan will help us join all the dots to make this a success.

“We look forward to seeing what recommendations are made from the task force’s report and in due course the council will progress to the next phase of delivery with the town plan.”