Mansfield: Stockwell Gate pedestrian underpass closing for a month for regeneration works
Mansfield Council is advising residents, visitors, and businesses that a temporary pedestrian closure will be in place at Stockwell Gate from Monday, January 26 until Friday, February 27, while essential bridge removal works are carried out as part of the wider regeneration of the town centre.
The closure is required to enable Kier, the council’s construction contractor, to safely remove two ageing pedestrian bridges that form part of the Stockwell Gate development site.
Recent inspections confirmed the presence of asbestos within sections of the bridge structure, meaning that a fully controlled removal environment is essential to ensure public and worker safety.
As a result, the pedestrian underpass running from Quaker Way to the north side of the Four Seasons Shopping Centre entrance will be closed for the duration of the works.
A clearly marked and well‑signed pedestrian diversion will be in place throughout, guiding pedestrians and visitors safely around the closure area.
All businesses on Stockwell Gate will remain open as usual, and customer access will be maintained via the signed pedestrian routes.
The council is working closely with Kier and its artners at the BID to ensure that signage is clear, prominent, and supportive of local traders during this period.
The bridge removal forms a key stage in progressing the regeneration of the Stockwell Gate area and the creation of the Mansfield Connect building, a £30m project that will be a new central base for public services, education and community provision, bringing improvements to the town centre’s footfall and spend, alongside improvements to the surrounding public spaces.
James Biddlestone, council chief executive, said: “Safety must be our overriding priority.
"The presence of asbestos means these bridges can only be removed within a controlled and enclosed environment and unfortunately this makes a temporary pedestrian closure unavoidable.
“We fully appreciate the impact this may have on local businesses and the public, compounded, unfortunately, by the challenges we face with the collapse of one of the levels at Walkden Street Car Park.
"But we want to reassure everyone that all businesses will remain open and accessible.
"Working closely with our contractor, we are committed to keeping disruption to a minimum and ensuring people are clearly guided through the diversion route.”
“This work is an important step forward in delivering the long‑term regeneration of this long neglected part of town and the creation of the Mansfield Connect building and we thank residents and businesses for their patience and co-operation.”