Council announces £20m Levelling Up bid to transform Worksop town centre

A £20m bid to transform Worksop town centre could include a major revamp to the Priory Centre, redevelopment of the Chesterfield Canal, residential developments, a new market and food court, a cycle hub and road improvements.
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Details have been revealed after Bassetlaw District Council submitted plans to government in an effort to secure the funding to transform the centre of town.

The authority, working in partnership with the Levelling Up Board has applied for a grant through round two of the UK government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF).

If successful the district council will redevelop the Priory Shopping Centre delivering a brand new family orientated leisure facility in the heart of the town centre.

Worksop town centreWorksop town centre
Worksop town centre

This will be complemented by a new towpath and moorings along the Chesterfield Canal, a new bridge linking to the north of the town and a focus on town centre living, with under-used space being turned into apartments and town houses.

A new multi-function market area and food court will also be created in addition to a new cycle hub, with café, changing rooms and lockers.

The bid seeks to:

Redevelop the Priory Centre including the development of a brand new leisure facility focused on family orientated activities such as tenpin bowling, indoor soft play facility, Trampoline Park and a café. Redevelopment will retain existing occupiers and bring in new tenants for current empty units. Deliver a new green footpath/towpath link along the Chesterfield Canal along with new moorings capitalising on canal boat traffic, whilst improving a green corridor through the town centre. Create a footbridge over the Chesterfield Canal resulting in improved connectivity to the main town centre from the residential areas to the north of the town which is one of the most deprived areas within Bassetlaw. Enable the redevelopment of the area for new town centre living, bringing two sites forward for development and encouraging underutilised space to be made into apartments and town houses. Create a multi-functional market area with a new food court. Create a new cycle hub that includes a cafe with changing facilities and bike lockers. Improve the existing road surfacing to ensure there is a defined access into the shopping centre.

The Priory Shopping Centre, WorksopThe Priory Shopping Centre, Worksop
The Priory Shopping Centre, Worksop

The bid is designed to encourage people into the town centre and give visitors a reason to stay longer by offering activities and interests that currently do not exist in Worksop.

It would also make better usage of the canal and waterways within the town.

A successful bid would kick start the improvements required to encourage new investments and create a new sense of confidence for Worksop, the council said.

Councillor Simon Greaves, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council said: “We had confirmation from Government last week that our bid has been received and I would like to thank all the members of the public who took the time to give us their views and feedback as well as all the members of the Levelling Up Board for helping shape the bid.

The Chesterfield Canal, in WorksopThe Chesterfield Canal, in Worksop
The Chesterfield Canal, in Worksop

“Levelling Up Funding is crucial to the long term future of Worksop Town Centre. This bid complements developments like the new Bridge Skills Hub and will provide a catalyst to unlock investment, to give people a purpose not just to come into town, but to stay longer in town.

"We need to create a shift from surviving to thriving. We have strong support from our MP and the county council and look forward to the Government delivering on their promise to Level Up forgotten areas like Worksop.”

Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke Smith said: "The ‘Levelling Up Fund’ provides Worksop with an opportunity to start the process of regenerating our town centre, to bring new life into empty units and to restore pride in a once thriving high street.

“This will build upon the £17.6m for a new A&E village at Bassetlaw Hospital, which will allow overnight treatment for children to return; the £3.5m funding for the Skills Hub, giving people the opportunity to retrain and reskill; the extra per pupil funding provided to our schools, giving our children the best start in life; the Safer Streets Funding, that provided new CCTV in our town centre to assist the police in making the high street safer and also the support to small businesses during the pandemic with grants, loans and the furlough scheme.

Simon Greaves, leader of Bassetlaw District Council.Simon Greaves, leader of Bassetlaw District Council.
Simon Greaves, leader of Bassetlaw District Council.
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“I am delighted that we have been able to work together in partnership with other stakeholders, including the district council, to produce a bid we feel gives us the best chance of securing this extra funding and once again delivering a town centre we can be proud of.”

Andria Birch, Chief Executive of BCVS said: “Bassetlaw CVS has been pleased to support development of the Worksop Levelling Up bid submission.

"The strong and diverse partnership approach has kept community voice at the heart of proposals as they have developed.

"Levelling Up funding will provide a critical stimulus for the creation of a Better Bassetlaw for everyone.

"We now look forward to next steps and building on the great work to date once funding is secured.”