Notts: Notts County Council plan to open a new visitor centre at Sherwood Forest country park

The county council is looking for a prospective partner organisation which would be able to develop and operate a visitor centre and also be effective stewards for the country park.

The council believesworking with an external partner can provide the most effective way forward, bring in significant income for the visitor economy in Notts, reduce revenue costs and protect the historic forest’s natural environment.

Council bosses are also proposing to increase the £1.8m already allocated to the project up to a total of £4.3m to underline its commitment to the project.

It has been confirmed that the council will begin the formal tendering process and aims to secure a partner organisation by the end of summer 2015.

And it is hoped the new visitor centre would be open to the public in summer 2017.

The council has met a number of potential partners over the summer period through ‘soft-market testing’ and there has been serious interest from a variety of different organisations.

Coun John Knight, committee chairman for culture, said: “The county council wants to protect, preserve and enhance the ecology and heritage of Sherwood Forest, further promote its national and international reputation and have a modern visitor offer that reflects the status of the forest and Robin Hood.”

“Over the summer period, we have already had strong interest from numerous organisations about working with the county council to achieve our vision.”

It is hoped there would be a Bidder’s Day in November providing a briefing and information event about the council’s vision, with shortlisting to take place in early 2015, followed by further dialogue with shortlisted bidders, before final tenders are produced in the summer and the final contract awarded in July or August.

The council’s culture committee will consider proposals to launch the formal tendering process at its meeting on 21st October.