Ryde High Street Heritage Action Zone

As the gateway to the island, the regeneration of Ryde High Street will seek to deliver wider benefits for the Isle of Wight as a whole.

Ryde is an attractive seaside town but it is experiencing the same ills as many coastal towns, compounded by its island status. Its high quality Georgian and Victorian architecture, reflecting its heyday when the Royal Family were frequent visitors to the Island and popularised it for holidays, is now suffering as a result. Rising shop vacancy rates on the high street are affecting the community.

How the Ryde High Street Heritage Action Zone will help

Investment will initially be in improving the paving and street furniture in the Middle High Street, creating a dedicated pedestrian zone. Guidance and feasibility studies will support bringing buildings into new uses that support the vitality of the town centre, including opportunities to increase visitor accommodation and offering 'creative space' for innovative new businesses and cafes that will help attract visitors in this part of the town and contribute to the community character.

Investment in a small number of key buildings will help restore the historic character of this part of the High Street, making it more attractive for visitors and investment and show the difference that a positive, conservation focused refit can make.

High Street Culture

Find out what’s coming up in our four-year programme of cultural activity across England's High Streets Heritage Action Zones, continuing until 2024.

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Working in partnership with

  • Ryde Town Council

High Streets

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South East Highlights