Funding boost for Hall plans

Mansfield District Council is currently pressing ahead with £1,4 million plans to revamp the Grade II*-listed former civic building.

It plans to transform the ground floor into indoor retail units and the upper floors into offices, bringing the building back into full use by early 2019 for the first time since it ceased to function as a town hall in 1986.

Proposals include completing the renovation to the main council chamber and grand stairs and improving accessibility to the 180-year-old building by providing level access and improved toilet facilities to the public areas of the building as well as fully accessible offices.

The council has earmarked more than £733,000 toward the project, with the rest set to come from the D2N2 local enterprise partnership after it announced the scheme was one of seven projects set to share a pot of £7.6m “to help reinvigorate Nottinghamshire town and local centres”.

A council spokeswoman said: “It is expected that a funding package will be in place by the end of March, allowing the project to move forward.

“Work is scheduled to commence in spring and due to be completed by the end of the year, during which time the Old Town Hall will remain closed to the public.”

Matthew Wheatley, D2N2 chief executive, said: “Thriving town and local centres are vital for wider economic growth; providing people with nearby job opportunities, leisure activities, and easily accessible retail and business services which reduce their need to travel further afield.”

The council spokeswoman said: “This is one of the flagship projects in a wider council ‘place shaping’ strategy to breathe new life into the town centre and raise the profile of the district as somewhere to invest in, shop, visit and live.

“The vision includes plans for a hotel on the site of the old bus station near Walkden Street and a scheme to revitalise the buildings in Leeming Street with the help of an application for nearly £1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.”

Kate Allsop, Mansfield mayor, said: “Bringing this glorious landmark building back into public use will be a wonderful achievement and bring an economic lift to the town centre.”