Architects could be invited to design new social housing scheme for derelict Mansfield site
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The council purchased land in the White Hart Street area in order to facilitate the regeneration of this key town centre site.
The area has stood derelict for over a decade now. It previously had planning permission for a mixed retail and residential scheme in 2008, but market conditions meant this scheme was never taken forward.
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Hide AdThe area subsequently became blighted and has, as a consequence, become a magnet for anti-social behaviour. Redevelopment of this area would strongly align with the council's Growth, Aspiration, Wellbeing and Place priorities.
Coun Marion Bradshaw, portfolio holder for Safer Communities, Housing and Wellbeing, said: "We want to improve this derelict and blighted part of Mansfield and see something really special on this piece of land.
"It must be a development which respects its historical significance and the conservation area in which it sits but also looks to the future. It also needs to be a development which is environmentally sustainable and mitigates climate change.
"It will promote a safe place to live and, crucially, it must reflect the council's available budget for this scheme.
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Hide Ad"The redevelopment would represent a vital element of the masterplan which we are in the process of putting together for the town centre to map out a future path for growth and regeneration.
"A key vision of that masterplan is to make the town centre a place where people want to live because this will increase the footfall for retailers and improve the look of the centre, all of which, in turn, should act as a catalyst for external investment."
If the competition is approve it will be managed by The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and would cost the council a maximum of £79,000.
Coun Bradshaw said: "Running a RIBA-approved competition would promote the district of Mansfield nationally and internationally and demonstrate that, as a town, it is progressive in its aspirations and open for business. It would bring with it a real atmosphere of excitement."
The firm winning the competition would progress the design for planning permission.