Announcements this week mark a major investment in some of Mansfield's poorest communities, with £11m confirmed for a range of physical regeneration projects and improved local services.
Local MP Ben Bradley spoke last week about a new Bellamy Youth Centre, in a £3.2m investment in the estate that will create new youth and community facilities for the area, which currently has very little viable community space.
This Monday (Jan 8th) this announcement, part of the Levelling Up Partnership agreed between Government and Mansfield stakeholders in early 2023, has been further extended to include the rest of the projects in the scheme, worth some £20m of total investment in the area.
These include
- £7.4m to remodel the Bellamy and Oak Tree estates and improve housing quality and access to services
- £3.2m for a youth centre on the Bellamy estate to help divert young people from crime and anti-social behaviour.
- £300,000 for the refurbishment of South Mansfield Family Hubs to make them more appropriate for family and youth support.
- £250,000 for a school readiness pilot run by Nottingham Trent University in some of Mansfield’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods
As well as these schemes, there is also funding for streetscaping and public realm improvements in the centre of Mansfield to make the town centre more appealing, and to make highways improvements at the infamous 'Sainsbury's Junction' on the A60.
Detailed plans will now be drawn up to decide exactly how the £7.4m available for the regeneration of housing on these estates should be spent, in conjunction with local residents and stakeholders. Meanwhile, the County Council's proposals to extend and improve family services in the area can go ahead, with the support of an additional £300,000, and a recent Oak Tree pilot project by Nottingham Trent University to support children in their early years and their families to get 'school ready' will be extended to support further parts of the town after promising results.
Speaking of these funding successes, Mr Bradley said:
''This is really fantastic news. Since the announcement of the Levelling Up Partnership I've been really keen to ensure that this money wasn't just used to do something short term, but instead was properly planned to make long term and meaningful change. This is a chance for major regeneration and new support services for some of our local residents who most need it. It's a chance to improve the homes and properties of many people who live in inappropriate housing. It's a chance to offer more 'Early Help' like Childrens and Youth services in these estates and make a real difference to the life chances of people living there. That's the kind of thing, and the kind of outcome, that I got in to politics to deliver. I'm really pleased it's been confirmed and grateful to the many local partners who have put forward these projects.''
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said:
“Levelling Up Partnerships are a key tool to drive much-needed change in local areas, and we are working intensively with places which for too long had been overlooked and undervalued. Our £20 million funding for Mansfield will help remodel the Bellamy and Oak Tree housing estates, develop young people’s green construction skills in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, address anti-social behaviour, and support East Midlands’ devolution deal.”
