'We need to be bold and ambitious'- Work begins on 15 year 'masterplan' for Mansfield's future

It is hoped that the 15 year vision will help channel a potential government funding boost for the town of up to £50m.

Mansfield District Council said it formed a major element of the emerging Local Plan and the ‘Making Mansfield: Towards 2030’ strategy, which seeks to transform the district and meet its four main priorities- growth, wellbeing, aspiration and place.

Councillor Stuart Richardson, portfolio holder for Regeneration and Growth, said the masterplan was being drafted up at a ‘critical’ time for the future of Mansfield amid the pandemic and changing shopping habits.

He said: “Times are changing - not only as an immediate consequence of the coronavirus and its effects on the local economy but also because of more long term changes in the way people shop and use town centres.

"We have to be bold and ambitious in our vision for the future in order to recreate a town centre that will be future proof and attractive to outside visitors as well as residents and people who work here.”

On Friday (June 26), the council's head of Planning and Regeneration, Martyn Saxton, took a delegated decision to appoint Allies and Morrison, partnering with Cushman & Wakefield and Urban Flow, to draw up the masterplan.

The first stage of the project is expected to result in an initial report by the end of the year, with the final masterplan expected to be produced by summer 2021.

Planners will take into account existing studies and data affecting the town centre, as well as how people access and travel to the town centre and how they use it.

It will also involve consulting with landowners and stakeholders, such as Mansfield BID and town centre users, to find out what they see as important factors in revisioning the heart of Mansfield.

Residents will then get the chance to have their say with the launch of a public consultation, which will be funded by Mansfield's initial Towns Fund allocation at a cost of £71,844.

These views will form the basis of the second stage of the plan which will detail action plans for key sites and how they could be funded, along with a planning strategy for how they could be delivered.

"Our regeneration plans are really starting to move forward and we look forward to seeing what this work will produce,” added Coun Richardson.

The first stage of work will look at:

Existing studies and data affecting the town centre

Economic and local market analysis about the town centre

How people access and travel to the town centre, as well as how they use it

Town centre street furniture such as benches, lampposts and signs

SMART City analysis – understanding how technology can be used to facilitate the visitor experience

Assessing environmental performance of the town considering air quality and green infrastructure

How planning regulations can be simplified to support appropriate development.

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