Contractor to be appointed for Mansfield’s long-awaited Bellamy Road estate redevelopment

The Bellamy Road estate in Mansfield
By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter

Mansfield District Council will go to tender to find a contractor to redevelop the heart of the town’s Bellamy Road estate.

The proposals, which have been eight years in the making, were approved in August and will see the existing shops and flats on Egmanton Road demolished to make way for a new ‘community hub’.

Under the approved plans, a new green space will be created alongside a play area for children, and 22 affordable, council-owned family homes will also be built.

A new shop, community cafe and a takeaway will come as part of the redevelopment, giving new life to an area of the estate which once housed Courtlands Social Club.

It will also see the creation of a new link road through the centre of the estate, connecting Thorpe Road to Egmanton Road and altering an existing bus route to serve the new ‘hub’.

It comes as part of Mansfield District Council’s £5.7 million investment into the estate, which was first built in the 1960s to accommodate an influx of miners.

Planning documents say the area has changed considerably over the past 60 years, with parts becoming “semi-derelict and in need of regeneration”.

Now a new report has revealed the authority is planning to go to tender and find a developer to bring the plans to life.

A delegated decision by the authority’s head of housing, due to take place on December 9, will authorise the procurement process to begin and a contractor to be found.

This will allow the plans to begin and for existing buildings on the estate to be demolished in favour of the redeveloped ‘community heart’.

Documents say: “In order to deliver the Bellamy Road Community Heart scheme – which involves the development of 22 new houses, the demolition of an old row of shops and the development of a new shop – it is necessary to procure a main contractor.

“If the tender exercise is successful and the council receives compliant bids, a contract will then need to be awarded to the successful tenderer.”

Commenting when the development was given planning permission in August, several councillors spoke in favour of the plans.

Councillor Martin Wright (Mans Ind), who represents the Holly ward, said: “As a former county councillor for the area, this area has been crying out for development.

“I welcome it, yes it’s costing a lot of money but it’s not something we should discuss here.

“What we want to do is improve the lives of the people on the Bellamy estate, and this will go a long way to doing so.”

Councillor Andy Sissons (Ind), who represents Newgate, added: “It’s a much-needed improvement and it will enhance the lives of the people and the residents there.

“Personally I think it’s money well-spent.”