Ashfield District Council submits £11m investment bid to revitalise Hucknall town centre

Ashfield District Council has submitted an ambitious £11million bid to the Government's Levelling Up Fund for the revitalisation of Hucknall town centre.

The bid is made up of three main projects: Skills and Economic Regeneration; Cultural and Heritage Gateway; and Access to Hucknall Town Centre.

The first of the projects is designed to support the council's education and skills strategy which aims to ensure Ashfield has a skilled, future-proof workforce.

It will also provide opportunities for shopfront improvement grants to help businesses to improve the exterior of their premises and start up grants to enable new businesses to flourish. The final element of the skills and economic regeneration project will be to explore ways to expand Hucknall's successful outdoor markets.

The second project will involve celebrating Hucknall's heritage by creating a new visitor experience at St Mary Magdalene Church focusing on Hucknall's most famous residents from the past. It will also target an improvement of the streets, roads, and public space around the Arc Cinema to create a welcoming entrance into Hucknall town centre. There are also plans for a new 3G sports pitch for residents.

The final project involves improving access to the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists through enhancements to signs, and with the creation of a digital app. This will assist and encourage residents and visitors to travel around Hucknall using more sustainable, healthier methods. Another part of the project would look at improving the comfort and welcome facilities at Hucknall train/tram station.

The Levelling Up Fund bid complements the Council's Towns Fund projects currently underway in Sutton and Kirkby.

Councillor Matthew Relf, Executive Lead Member for Regeneration and Corporate Transformation said: "The Council has a vision of creating a vibrant, thriving town centre in Hucknall and this bid will help to fulfil our aim. We have been hugely successful in securing millions of pounds in funding for Sutton and Kirkby so we have high hopes for this bid for Hucknall.

"Hucknall town centre has the potential to be the beating heart of the District and this bid capitalises on this. We aim to improve the access into the town to attract more visitors, and businesses to reinvigorate the town centre.

"The cultural and heritage enhancements will celebrate Hucknall's rich heritage and provide new opportunities for people to learn about this history. This bid is tremendous and represents the Council's ambitions for Hucknall to be a modern, fantastic place to live, work and visit."

Councillor Lee Waters, Ward Councillor for Hucknall North, said: "I am pleased that Hucknall's £11million Levelling Up Fund bid has gone into Government. This is the culmination of 18 months hard work from Hucknall's councillors and officers from the Council. It will fulfil our vision of creating a vibrant, thriving town centre.

"It is hugely ambitious and will be one of the biggest investments in our town for decades. It will focus on improving the life chances of residents, turbo charging investment, fast tracking public transport improvements – all whilst remembering our heritage. This is our chance to make (a) significant change that will be benefit (sic) Hucknall for generations to come."