Council reveals multi-million pound plans for 1930s department store
Mansfield District Council has revealed plans to transform a former department store in the town into a civic hub.
The £25.75m scheme would see the former Beales building, which dates back to the 1930s, undergo extensive renovation works to create a new headquarters for the council.
The rejuvenated building would include space for public, educational, health and wellbeing services.
The Department for Work and Pensions, Nottinghamshire County Council, Vision West Nottinghamshire College, Nottingham Trent University, NHS health partners and volunteering co-ordinator the CVS have all expressed interest in being involved.
The project, which the council believes would serve as a catalyst for further investment in the town, could be part-funded by cash from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) if the authority’s recent £20m bid proves successful.
Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said: “If our bid to the Levelling Up Fund is successful, this scheme will offer a once-in-a-generation opportunity to develop new solutions to the challenges facing the town and district.
“Repurposing this landmark building will act as a kind of renaissance by bringing to life a new integrated space, which will then stimulate the local economy and encourage private sector investment.
“This really would be levelling up in action and it would also be a boost to the delivery of public services by consolidating them into one town centre space.”
