HAMPDEN Park is experiencing a period of economic transition, whilst some local shops have recently closed their doors for the last time, the area has seen a significant investment from a local used car dealership.
Hampden Park Motoring Centre has invested around £1 million in a new dealership, after taking over the site from its previous owners, who ran the used car sales forecourt for more than 30 years. The site was reopened last month with a brand new look.
The investment has bucked the trend of high street closures, as, according to the Centre for Retail Research, a total of 13,479 high street shops closed across the UK in 2024. This marks a 28% increase compared to 2023.
In contrast to these figures, Hampden Park Motoring Centre’s substantial investment in a new dealership signals confidence in the area’s potential. The investment aims to provide enhanced services to car buyers and create new employment opportunities, offering a boost to the local economy.
A spokesperson for the Hampden Park Motoring Centre said: “We’re delighted to bring this major lifeline into the community. We have a long history in selling quality cars across East Sussex for many decades, so this investment into Hampden Park is extremely important for us as well as the high street.”
They added: “This is an extremely difficult time for a lot of businesses, but we really need to keep our town centres alive and thriving. It’s always sad to see businesses close up, so anything we can do to drive more shoppers into the high street must be done.”
