By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
Millions of pounds are being spent to try to rejuvenate Newark’s town centre and reverse a decline caused by the rise of online shopping and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ‘Cultural Heart of Newark’ scheme will be delivered over three years to “increase the town centre’s vibrancy” and encourage more footfall.
Areas for potential development include the Market Place, Riverside Park, and Newark Castle gardens to provide “flexible, multi-purpose, connected spaces”.
The project intends to explore street tree planting, encourage and promote local events, and consider the use of art in public spaces.
Councillors praised the project during the Policy and Finance Committee on March 17.
In 2021, Newark was named as one of a number of towns to receive Government funding of £25m.
The authority now wants to spend £2.1m of the funding on the project, to be distributed over the next three years.
Newark Town Council is leading the scheme and has contributed £200,000 of the cash.
The funding will also provide two new full-time jobs, an events officer and a programme development officer, to aid the plans.
Council documents stated: “During recent years, there has been a steady decline in footfall of town centres nationally, with online shopping, out of town retail developments and the COVID-19 pandemic contributing sharply to this. The Newark Town Investment Plan identified that there was an oversupply of retail floor space in Newark and that a different approach was required to
increase the town centre’s vibrancy.
“The Town Investment Plan further identified a need for events-based regeneration through a consultation exercise with more than 80 per cent of respondents stating that more events would lead to the best improvement and impact for the town centre.
“The aim of the Cultural Heart of Newark project, therefore, is to build upon, coordinate, and enhance the current programme of public events and activities in Newark town centre in order to develop its vibrancy and cultural experience and support growth in footfall, dwell time and consumer expenditure on retail, hospitality, and other services in the town.”
During the same meeting, plans for Newark Castle’s regeneration were also approved.
Councillor Rhona Holloway (Con) added: “It’s a really interesting project and hopefully, this will encourage more independent shops into the area.
“With greater footfall, more diverse group of people coming in for different reasons then encourages more independent businesses to come in to service that. Hopefully it will have a knock-on effect.”
Councillor Roger Jackson (Con) said during the meeting: “It’s all one big project going forward.
“It follows on with encouraging people into the town centre and providing them with things to see and do.”
Councillor David Lloyd, Conservative Leader of the Council, said: “These projects are not stand alone, each is designed to be a catalyst.
“The castle should hopefully bring more visitors in, who in turn we can get across to the Civil War Centre and referring them across to Sherwood.
“Its economic impact won’t be measured singularly. Its intent is to bring more in to spend more money.”
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the next steps for the delivery of the Cultural Heart of Newark project.
