Latest news with #AshfieldDistrictCouncil
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Town centre dubbed ‘long-forgotten eyesore' set for £65m transformation into ‘stunning' landmark and plaza
A TOWN centre dubbed a "long forgotten eyesore" is set to undergo a massive £65 million transformation. The vision is to build a "stunning" landmark building in the left-behind area. Advertisement 2 The town centre has been dubbed a "long forgotten eyesore" Credit: Alamy Ashfield District Council has revealed major plans for what it calls the "North Kirkby Gateway". The project will redevelop the Pond Hole site in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, as well as the former factory shop on Ellis Street. The old factory will be turned into a "striking landmark building" that will be home to 24 town centre apartments and business units along Kirkby Plaza. New parking spaces will also be introduced as well as 55 units providing retirement living for Ashfield residents. Advertisement Read more News The council plans to submit a planning application in Autumn 2025 and is currently in the process of appointing a contractor to deliver the project. Work could get underway as soon as early 2026 with the view of completing the redevelopment by Spring 2027. The plans are just one of the Council's projects being funded by the £62.6 million Towns Fund. The Towns Fund has already seen the completion of the Planetarium and Science Discovery Centre at Sherwood Observatory as well as a redesign of Portland Square and upcoming West Kirkby Gateway project. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Councillor Warren Nuttall, who represents Greenwood and Summit on Ashfield District Council, said: "This site has become an eyesore and is in desperate need of transforming to create a stunning gateway into Kirkby. "We are excited to be able to share these plans for North Kirkby Gateway, offering desirable town centre living, community space and business opportunities. "We are committed to developing these sites that appear to be long forgotten into somewhere Ashfield can be proud of. "It is being funded by the council's £62.6 million Towns Fund." Advertisement The council has said the demolition of the old factory shop building later this year will be the first milestone. Work on the derelict Pond Hole site is already underway and is being carried out by Langcroft Developments. Spokesman for the company, Craig Cameron, announced work was now underway in what is "a big step forward in bringing this exciting regeneration project to life". Huge new £1.3billion redevelopment to create new 'cultural hub' in London He said: "This marks a key moment for the Ashfield Town Fund programme and we're proud to be playing our part by delivering much-needed, high-quality and affordable provisions designed with older residents in mind - promoting independent living in a safe, accessible setting. Advertisement "We've appointed CPMG Architects to lead the design and planning process and we're working closely with Ashfield District Council to make sure the scheme ties in with the wider vision for the area - from housing and skills to enterprise and community infrastructure. "We've had great support from the Council, the UK Government and the local community so far and with grant funding in place, we've already started the remediation and enabling works to help move things forward quickly." Separately, Ashfield District Council also lodged a planning application last October for the redevelopment of a new school. The Outwood Academy, formerly known as Kirkby College, has a capacity for about 700 pupils with students potentially moving into the new building by September 2027. Advertisement Kirkby-in-Ashfield isn't the only area to see a major redevelopment either. Sweeping changes to Leicester Market are on track to be completed by the end of next year. Elsewhere, Advertisement From retail and housing to new public spaces and improvements to the train station, the 2 Work could be underway as soon as early 2026 and completed by 2027 Credit: Ashfield District Council
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Town centre dubbed ‘long-forgotten eyesore' set for £65m transformation into ‘stunning' landmark and plaza
ALL CHANGE Work on the town centre in Nottinghamshire could start as soon as early 2026 A TOWN centre dubbed a "long forgotten eyesore" is set to undergo a massive £65 million transformation. The vision is to build a "stunning" landmark building in the left-behind area. 2 Ashfield District Council has revealed major plans for what it calls the "North Kirkby Gateway". The project will redevelop the Pond Hole site in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, as well as the former factory shop on Ellis Street. The old factory will be turned into a "striking landmark building" that will be home to 24 town centre apartments and business units along Kirkby Plaza. New parking spaces will also be introduced as well as 55 units providing retirement living for Ashfield residents. The council plans to submit a planning application in Autumn 2025 and is currently in the process of appointing a contractor to deliver the project. Work could get underway as soon as early 2026 with the view of completing the redevelopment by Spring 2027. The plans are just one of the Council's projects being funded by the £62.6 million Towns Fund. The Towns Fund has already seen the completion of the Planetarium and Science Discovery Centre at Sherwood Observatory as well as a redesign of Portland Square and upcoming West Kirkby Gateway project. Councillor Warren Nuttall, who represents Greenwood and Summit on Ashfield District Council, said: "This site has become an eyesore and is in desperate need of transforming to create a stunning gateway into Kirkby. "We are excited to be able to share these plans for North Kirkby Gateway, offering desirable town centre living, community space and business opportunities. "We are committed to developing these sites that appear to be long forgotten into somewhere Ashfield can be proud of. "It is being funded by the council's £62.6 million Towns Fund." The council has said the demolition of the old factory shop building later this year will be the first milestone. Work on the derelict Pond Hole site is already underway and is being carried out by Langcroft Developments. Spokesman for the company, Craig Cameron, announced work was now underway in what is "a big step forward in bringing this exciting regeneration project to life". Huge new £1.3billion redevelopment to create new 'cultural hub' in London He said: "This marks a key moment for the Ashfield Town Fund programme and we're proud to be playing our part by delivering much-needed, high-quality and affordable provisions designed with older residents in mind - promoting independent living in a safe, accessible setting. "We've appointed CPMG Architects to lead the design and planning process and we're working closely with Ashfield District Council to make sure the scheme ties in with the wider vision for the area - from housing and skills to enterprise and community infrastructure. "We've had great support from the Council, the UK Government and the local community so far and with grant funding in place, we've already started the remediation and enabling works to help move things forward quickly." Separately, Ashfield District Council also lodged a planning application last October for the redevelopment of a new school. The Outwood Academy, formerly known as Kirkby College, has a capacity for about 700 pupils with students potentially moving into the new building by September 2027. Kirkby-in-Ashfield isn't the only area to see a major redevelopment either. to make it "fit for the 21st century". Sweeping changes to Leicester Market are on track to be completed by the end of next year. Elsewhere, Croydon's centre is finally set to undergo a major redevelopment. From retail and housing to new public spaces and improvements to the train station, the London borough is set to see a whopping £5 billion invested into the area.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Plans for new football pitches approved
Two new football pitches in Sutton-in-Ashfield have been given the go-ahead. Ashfield District Council backed its own planning application to replace the pitch at Sutton Lawn with two new artificial grass pitches at a meeting on Thursday. The pitches will have a 4.5m-high perimeter fencing surrounding the grass, with 12 13m-high floodlights around the pitches. There will also be an overflow car park with an additional 30 parking spaces. The planning application received two objections from residents, who raised concerns about the impact of the lighting on nearby households, as well as noise issues. Addressing concerns, the planning application said the floodlights "are dimmable to offer reduced lighting options for use during training sessions", with any light pollution reduced by their height and angle. In a statement, John Bennett, the council's executive director for place, said the plans were "another step" in its bid to improve sports facilities in the area. "We are opening up our green spaces and parks to provide more opportunities for our residents," he said. "Health and happiness is one of our priorities as a council, and I look forward to seeing the new pitches become a reality." Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Ashfield District Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Cash injection can help revive Kirkby-inAshfield'
Residents living in a town that is set to receive £20m worth of funding say its high-street "desperately" needs the in Nottinghamshire is one of 75 areas in the country due to be given the money to pay for funding was initially announced by the previous Conservative government but has been re-confirmed by District Council said it was pleased the money had been secured and it is currently deciding what it will be spent on. The government says its 'Plan for Neighbourhoods' scheme is investing £1.5bn over the next decade to help places that have been "left behind."In Kirby-in-Ashfield, a town board has been established to draft has been decided so far, and any projects will not be rolled out until Leigh-Anne Morris welcomed the investment as she describes the town as being in "serious decline.""I have lived here for 16 years and it's sadly getting worse and worse" she said."Shops and businesses are open one minute and close all of a sudden."We have kids loitering in the parks and on the streets because there isn't anywhere for them to go. The town needs reviving." Christine Palmer, 79, lives in nearby Sutton-in-Ashfield but frequently comes to Kirkby."There is not much attracting me to the area anymore," she said."I remember there were plenty of butchers and bakers, but all those staple businesses have gone."If they don't sort this issue out, it will be a ghost town."Craig Potter has lived in the town his whole life, and said it had "good facilities" but the money needed to be spent wisely."We have a great leisure centre and some good pubs, but in other places in Ashfield, you see that more of the shops are boarded up and neglected," he said. "We need to make sure that does not happen to Kirkby, and that the council listens to what residents actually want."Jason Zadrozny, leader of Ashfield District Council said: "To have confirmation this funding is secure is good news for Ashfield."We will continue to work with the Kirkby Town Board to review our plan and get it ready for re-submission later in the year."
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
'False promises' as Hucknall misses out on £9m funding
The decision to withdraw £9m of funding from a Nottinghamshire town has drawn an angry reaction from some money for Hucknall was announced in March 2024 by the previous Conservative government but in October, Labour said it was under has now been confirmed the investment will not be forthcoming, with local Labour MP Michelle Welsh claiming the area had been the victim of "false promises" from the ruling Independent group on Ashfield District Council said the move was "an absolute betrayal of Hucknall" and local projects would suffer. 'Plan B' A series of projects across England, Scotland and Wales were earmarked for funding in after a period of consultation, the money has been shelved for all but 10 of the Waters, who represents Hucknall central for Ashfield Independents on the district council, said it was "an unforgivable slap in the face for our residents".He said: "[The money would] revamp the the town centre to make it brighter, safer. "That involves improving the lighting, the signage, the paving, shop front upgrades, boosting business and making Hucknall a much more attractive place to be. "We were going to enhance public spaces, including our market space and the Byron Cinema junction where there's a lot of traffic issues."He added they were now "looking at Plan B" and approaching the East Midlands Combined Authority in the East Midlands "to step up where the government failed". Resident Annabel Clowes, 32, said: "[I am] disappointed because we could do with the money to make Hucknall a better place."We need more soft play areas for children and places for mothers to get together so they don't feel alone."Tony Bucknall, 82, said: "If I won a million pounds I wouldn't leave Hucknall, I'd spend the money on improving Hucknall."It needs better shops, more upmarket shops."I believe in promises and if a promise is made it should be kept and if we had kept the £9m it could also improve Titchfield park and fill a few potholes." Ms Welsh defended the move, saying: "Hucknall has been let down both by the previous Conservative government's false promises and by the Ashfield Independent administration's poorly planned bid. The people of Hucknall deserve better. "No money has been taken away; it was never there to begin with."A Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "This government inherited unfunded commitments to these projects, along with many others, but by making difficult choices we have managed to re-prioritise some funding within extremely tight budgets."We have carefully considered the responses to our consultation and chosen projects at an advanced stage that will have the greatest impact on local people and economic growth - this government's number one mission."
