Plans for £600,000 revamp of town approved

Plans have been approved to spend £600,000 improving a historic market town in north Nottinghamshire.

Ashfield District Council's planning committee gave the go-ahead for the blueprint to "revitalise" the appearance of Central Walk and Chapel Street in Hucknall on Wednesday.

The plans include replacing the "dated" arcade canopy, upgrades to shop fronts, new planting and public art installations.

The town is famous for its industrial links to the Nottinghamshire coal mining heritage. It is the birth place of composer Eric Coates and St Mary Magdalene Church is the burial place of Lord Byron and his daughter Ada Lovelace.

The project, set to begin at the start of 2026, is funded by money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the authority said.

On Chapel Street, the council said the canopy outside the B&M store would be removed and new paving laid.

The authority added that ramp access will also be installed, stairs will be widened and new planters, seating and ambient lighting introduced.

A mural "highlighting Hucknall's history" will also be painted on the side of the B&M store.

The council said the plan was to improve "feelings of safety and reduce anti-social behaviour" and encourage more visitors to the town.

Councillor Matthew Relf, executive lead member for growth, regeneration and local planning, said: "These plans for Hucknall will ultimately encourage higher footfall, by making people want to spend more time in the town centre and contributing towards feelings of safety.

"A lot of the comments we received on the plans mentioned that Chapel Street in particular didn't feel safe as it gets darker due to the lack of lighting, so we are addressing this directly with a new streetlight and ambient lighting to soften the walkway."

Mr Relf said those two links between the town centre and Piggins Croft car park were in "dire need of a facelift."

"Our planned improvements will make a huge difference to the area and will mark the start of the next phase of regeneration for Hucknall," said Relf.

Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.