Multi-million-pound regeneration projects becoming a reality in Mansfield

Numerous sites in the district, including White Hart Street, the former Beales building soon-to-be Mansfield Connect, Berry Hill Park, Centenary Road, and Bellamy Estate, are seeing transformational changes taking place thanks to Mansfield District Council’s intervention and the council and UK Government cash.

Notably, many of the schemes are highlighted as key sites within its Town Centre Masterplan that needed to be pursued and redeveloped.

Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said he was proud that the council was demonstrating strong leadership and ambition by delivering regeneration on these key sites.

He said: “We have shown great vision and courage in acquiring and repurposing very challenging sites, particularly in the town centre. They would otherwise have proven to be a long-term eyesore, symbols of a dying town centre, and detractions to private investment.

“Our bold actions are, in turn, stimulating further private investment into Mansfield, with notable international companies seeing the potential coming to the district, including Tim Horton, Taco Bell, Burger King, and Starbucks.

“These actions are ultimately driving footfall in the town centre and demonstrate confidence to businesses that Mansfield is a place to invest. We are confident and committed to making Mansfield a place where everyone can prosper, and we make no apology for being bold and setting a forward and ambitious vision for our district in the future.”

The council’s bold plans for the district are woven heavily into its recently adopted corporate plan, Towards 2030: A Strategy for Mansfield. The overarching objective of ‘our economy’—leading the regeneration and renewal to revive key sites—is the focus driving the generational changes taking place in the district.

Rebekah O’Neill, Four Seasons Shopping Centre Manager, added: “In the last year we have continued to see footfall increase again year on year, which is a huge confidence boost to our retailers.

“Confidence is also felt by the number of new stores that have had joined us, with over 10 new stores opening since 2023 – as well as many of our existing retailers renewing their leases and commitment to the centre and our town.

“We are particularly delighted to have welcomed a number of local independent retailers to the centre, whom we have had the pleasure of supporting in their first steps on the High Street through our Pop-Up Shop initiative.

“We are proud to be involved in the transformational journey Mansfield is embarking on, through our partnership with the council and Place Board, and look forward to seeing the town centre move from strength to strength in the not-too-distant future.”

The White Hart Street scheme, funded by £16.5 million of council cash, has seen consultation on the plans come to an end in the last week. The aim was to seek people’s views on the social housing and public realm scheme before it is formally submitted for planning consideration next month.

The properties are expected to be a mix of family houses and apartments for older people. It will also transform the current derelict site, deliver mixed-use affordable homes, revitalise heritage assets into new commercial spaces, and connect the town centre.

Mansfield Connect, supported by £25 million of UK Government funding, will see the transformation of the former Beales building into a multi-agency hub, and is also progressing well, with the RIBA Stage 2 designs now being concluded.

A planning application for the scheme is currently expected to be submitted towards the end of October with plans to demolish the link bridges over Stockwell Gate due to be submitted this month, opening a key gateway into the town centre and unlocking its vibrancy.

Subject to continued positive progress, demolition could commence in January 2025 with project work expected to begin on site in November 2025, and it will be fully operational and open in February 2027.

It is expected to house a variety of public, educational, enterprise, employment and health and wellbeing services, along with space for private sector investment and Mansfield District Council’s new headquarters.

The delivery of a third phase of 77 high-quality and affordable council homes on Centenary Road is also reaching a critical point, as contractors are due to be appointed in the coming weeks.

The £18 million project has been conducted in three phases known widely as Poppy Fields. So far, on the site, a total of 84 new homes have been built. Phase three works are expected to start on site in September 2024 and are due to be completed in May 2026.

On the topic of contractors, the council is due to appoint a company in the next month for the extensive improvement programme at Berry Hill Park.

The Destination project, funded from the UK Government’s Towns Fund, will see new and improved accessible footpaths, two new play areas, and a new building with a multi-functional space and toilets. Work is anticipated to start in the autumn and be completed in late 2025.

A destination park aims to offer an experience that goes above and beyond what an average park would offer. It is hoped that these new facilities and changes will draw in more visitors to the district and boost the local economy.

In the Bellamy estate, £7.7 million plans to build new homes, new shops, and a community orchard have been progressing well, with contractors breaking ground this month to build 22 energy-efficient council homes.

Once complete, this new-build neighbourhood will consist of 22 properties, all of which will be available for council tenants on the housing waiting list. The homes will be the epicentre of the regenerated Bellamy estate, which is also home to a new parade of shops, now built and ready to be let out.

The old shops are due to be demolished in the autumn. Also, a new through road and a newly installed green space are all in the pipeline, with overall work expected to conclude in October 2025.

In the last month, the brand-new community health hub in Warsop has opened its doors, with demand surpassing initial expectations.

The Warsop Health Hub is now home to a 15m x 8m swimming pool and splash play area, a changing village, a gym, a multi-purpose hall, a café, and a community space area. Also, the newly tarmacked multi-use games area to play sports outdoors is now open to residents, just behind the new building.