Ashfield District Council will ‘regroup and bid again’ after £11m Hucknall Levelling Up plans rejected

Ashfield District Council says it will "regroup" after the Government turned down its £11m bid for regeneration cash in Hucknall.

The Ashfield Independent-led authority had applied for the cash as part of the second round of the Levelling Up Fund.

But it was informed on Thursday morning (January 19) that ministers had refused its bid.

It's the first time the council has been unsuccessful in Government bids after receiving £62m for Sutton and Kirkby in the Towns Fund and a further £6m for Sutton in Future High Streets cash.

The Hucknall bid was planned to "turbo-charge" the town centre by focusing on transport connectivity, heritage, skills and economic regeneration.

It included plans to create a "future-proof workforce", support shopfront improvements and expand Hucknall's outdoor markets.

The town's heritage could also have been celebrated with a new visitor experience at St Mary Magdalene Church focusing on famous Hucknall residents.

The funding was also planned for shopfront improvement grants, start-up grants and public space improvements near the Byron Cinema.

And the council had outlined plans for a new 3G sports pitch, a new Hucknall-focused app and improved town centre transport.

The authority had initially been expected to ask for the full £20m but opted for the reduced £11m bid in the hope it may be more likely to get accepted.

Now a Hucknall councillor has confirmed the council will await feedback from ministers about why the bid was declined but confirmed another bid will likely be submitted in the next round.

Cllr Lee Waters (Ash Ind), who represents Hucknall North, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "This was an excellent bid.

"Like bids for places like Bulwell, the Broadmarsh and Gedling, the Government has rejected it.

"Our ambitious plans for Hucknall remain and whilst we are obviously disappointed, we will wait for feedback from the Government.

"We will regroup, listen to the feedback and go again in round three."

The blow was softened slightly for the authority after ministers confirmed £3.1m would be provided for a new planetarium project in Sutton.

The authority has been working with the Mansfield and Sutton Astrological Society, which has developed the plans for the Sherwood Observatory, off Coxmoor Road.

A planning application has already been submitted and the project is expected to get under way permitting extra match-funding cash is secured.

Cllr Jason Zadrozny (Ash Ind), Ashfield District Council's leader, welcomed the funding but expressed sadness at the Hucknall bid.

Speaking in Nottinghamshire County Council's full council meeting on Thursday (January 19), he said: "We're delighted with the money we received this morning for the planetarium.

"But we're disappointed, of course, that the Government didn't share our ambition for Hucknall."