Sutton town centre regeneration plans advance
Regeneration plans for Portland Square and Fox Street, Sutton, can now progress after receiving the green light at Ashfield District Council’s Planning Committee this morning.
The Council is redeveloping the derelict land on Fox Street as part of the Future High Streets Fund programme. The site will be transformed into a flexible outdoor space which will see a 41-space car park created which will also host the town’s outdoor market with space for 32 stalls, and future events. New hedging, trees and wildflowers will increase the biodiversity at the site.
The site on Fox Street will also benefit from new CCTV cameras and street lighting to create a safe and welcoming space. The River Idle, which runs adjacent to the site, will be cleaned and the space cleared, planted, and benches installed so residents can enjoy the natural feature.
The Council’s ambitious plans for Portland Square include removing the sundial and creating two large, raised lawns to add much-needed greenery and socialising space into the town centre. The raised lawns will feature eight mature trees and ambient lighting, with external seating and lighting built into the walls. Portland Square is being redesigned as part of the £62.6million Towns Fund Deal for Kirkby and Sutton.
The design will also provide increased pavement space outside the shops, to allow hospitality businesses to provide outdoor furniture and make the most of the trading space.
The work on both sites will begin later this year.
Cllr Matthew Relf, Executive Lead Member for Regeneration and Corporate Transformation said:
“Town centres need to be adaptable and responsive to change, including flexible areas to support a variety of uses, and our plans for Sutton do exactly that allowing different events and activities to happen right in the centre of town. These improvements will open up sight lines from ASDA’s car park into the town centre, welcoming shoppers to explore more of the businesses in the town.
“By utilising the derelict space on Fox Street and transforming Portland Square, combined with the other regeneration projects on Low Street and High Pavement, we are kick-starting the regeneration of the town. Many more of the projects that we have previously announced across the District are now getting close to starting work on site. We have some exciting years ahead watching these projects become real, helping enrich the lives of everyone who lives, works, studies and visits Ashfield.”
