Small traders and businesses starting out are being offered the chance to occupy affordable space in a key area of King’s Lynn town centre.
The opportunity has been made possible thanks to four new pop-up retail units which have been recently completed along with a fitting exterior finish, after the units were placed on Purfleet Street earlier in the year. The new units, which all come with power and lighting and extra storage space, include two pop-ups for retail use and two for food and beverage businesses.
The units, which once in use will be accessible via a ramp, have been carefully designed in keeping with the industrial and maritime heritage of the area. The Corten – the weathering steel façade of the pop-ups which is still settling into its final form – will be backlit with lighting which will be changeable. Once it has fully rusted, the Corten will match the other street furniture around the town including those on South Clough Lane and the planters and seating at the southern end of the High Street.
And, the design punched into the Corten and the doors will match the leaf design on the planned Purfleet Street arch which has been designed with local school children.
The new pop-ups have been developed in response to feedback from potential and existing small traders captured in a survey that took place in 2021. This survey revealed that affordable, flexible space is really important for those who might make use of pop-up space. The same survey also found that respondents felt that pop-ups could be a tool for business growth.
The council is currently taking expressions of interest from anyone interested in hiring the units at affordable rates for a few weeks or a few months. Please get in touch: towncentremanager@west-norfolk.gov.uk
Councillor Simon Ring, the Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business and Culture: explained more. “The pop-ups offer the chance for traders or small businesses to market their offer in the town centre, where they can reach more people, can test new products, or where they can trial a physical presence in town.
“The pop-ups are accessible and can be used by a whole range of potential occupants, including people who have already set up or others who may be looking to turn a hobby into a business.
“With such flexible space, the pop-ups can be hired by businesses offering a diverse range of products, such as arts and crafts, clothing, homewares, jewellery, as well as food and drink, amongst many others. The possibilities for the pop-ups are endless.”
The pop-ups are just one of the improvements being delivered as part of the Town Deal funded Rail to River project which is being delivered by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. A planned new arch at the entrance to Purfleet Street is also set to be created, complementing the pop-ups.
Further along the route, new public art, also designed with input from local school children, will be installed. And, wayfinding along the route has been made easier with new fingerpost signage, and a digital sign at the railway station that promotes events and activities to people coming into King’s Lynn.
Harrison McNaught, King’s Lynn Town Deal Board’s Champion for the Rail to River project said: “The Rail to River project improvements are adding appeal to the town centre, making people’s experience in our town even better.
“The new pop-ups are an important aspect of this, and they provide a fantastic opportunity for businesses looking to grow and thrive. Any business that is wondering if this could be for them, I would urge them to get in touch.
“Taking space in the pop-ups could be a catalyst for your business – and another great reason for people to visit and enjoy King’s Lynn.”
In the coming days, the pop ups will be surrounded temporary by scaffolding to protect the units whilst roof work takes place to a nearby shop.
Pictured in the pop-ups is Vicky Etheridge, Interim Chair of King’s Lynn Town Board.
The pop-ups have been designed to reflect the local heritage and and will match the other street furniture around the town including those on South Clough Lane and the High Street.
Purfleet Street was historically very industrial so the pop-ups have been designed to reflect this. In addition, the material is the same as is used for shipping containers, paying homage to King’s Lynn as a port town.
The leaf design punched into the Corten and the doors will match the leaf design on the planned Purfleet Street Arch which is set to be installed in the coming months and which was designed with the help of local school children working with a local design company MAZE.
