- Bill Cotton joins Tamworth Borough Council to lead delivery of town’s major regeneration and economic growth programmes
- Bringing over 30 years’ senior placemaking experience at a critical time for Tamworth’s transformation
- Will steer delivery of the Future High Streets Fund programme, Lower Gungate development, and the council’s new economic vision
Tamworth Borough Council has appointed Bill Cotton as Interim Executive Director of Communities, a strategic leadership role central to delivering the authority’s ambitious regeneration and economic development plans.
Bill joins the council at a pivotal time, bringing with him over three decades of experience in placemaking, planning and economic development. His appointment follows the retirement of Rob Barnes after an astonishing 26 years’ service with Tamworth and comes as Tamworth nears completion of its ambitious £21million Future High Streets Fund programme - a transformational development aimed at reshaping the town centre and supporting long-term economic resilience.
Having held senior roles in Oxfordshire and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, where he led multi-disciplinary directorates covering planning, development, economic growth, culture, climate action, and transport, Bill’s leadership will be instrumental as Tamworth progresses towards the second phase of town centre development, including the delivery of a second town centre regeneration project, known locally as the Gungate scheme.
Bill Cotton, Executive Director for Communities at Tamworth Borough Council said: “I’m very pleased to be joining Tamworth Borough Council at such a pivotal time
“The council has an ambitious town centre regeneration programme, and I look forward to helping deliver a place that residents are proud of.”
Tamworth’s economic development strategy outlines a bold vision for the town, setting out key priorities to:
- Boost the visitor economy
- Promote an ‘Enterprising Tamworth’
- Improve the business accommodation offer
- Address economic inactivity
- Develop Gungate, which is a large-scale project involving land acquisition and repurposing of spaces
- Establish a Tamworth Development Agency to coordinate and accelerate growth
The strategy identifies the need for significant investment, stronger stakeholder collaboration, and a clearer economic identity to unlock Tamworth’s full potential. With its rich heritage and strategic location, the council believes Tamworth is well positioned to transition from ‘ticking along’ to thriving, but strong leadership and delivery capacity are essential.
Stephen Gabriel, Chief Executive of Tamworth Borough Council said: “I am delighted to welcome Bill to Tamworth at such a crucial stage in our journey. With our Gungate scheme set for expressions of interest from developers later this year, it has been critical to fill this pivotal role quickly.
“Bill’s track record of delivering complex regeneration schemes and aligning strategic vision with local aspirations makes him ideally placed to lead this next chapter for Tamworth.
“I am very much looking forward to seeing what Bill brings to Tamworth.”
For more information on Tamworth’s regeneration plans, visit: https://www.tamworth.gov.uk/transforming-tamworth