This project is funded by the Housing and Regeneration Enabling Fund (managed by the West of England Combined Authority).
The two plans tackle different geographical areas and will be implemented over different timescales. The Old Brewery Quarter Town Centre Masterplan is a long-term strategic vision focusing on an area centred around the Old Brewery buildings at the lower end of the town centre. The Regeneration Action Plan forms a basis for funding bids for short- to medium-term interventions covering the whole town centre area, stretching the full length of the High Street, surrounding residential areas and the Town Park.
At the moment – we don’t know! During the first stages of the project, we’ll be working closely with residents, businesses, community stakeholders and charities to develop a shared vision for the town centre.
Yes. Each project is part of a wider regeneration programme for Midsomer Norton which began with the town’s designation as a High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) in 2020. That scheme came to an end in March 2024 but has been used as a catalyst for further successful funding bids, allowing several projects to extend beyond the end of the HSHAZ. This has brought in £3.7million investment in the town centre already. IMAGINE Midsomer Norton is the next phase in this wider regeneration programme, and will seek to support ongoing investment.
A regeneration action plan is a document which lays out priority actions for improving the vitality of a place. It identifies existing projects and considers them alongside possible future initiatives, using this as the basis for funding bids. It can incorporate a range of different actions, including but not limited to improvement of public spaces through both public and private investment in the high street and business premises; addressing vacant units; business development and support; strengthening communities through events and cultural programming.
A masterplan is a long-term planning document for an area, describing how the area could be developed. It looks at how things are laid out now and how things could look in future, bringing them together into an overarching vision. For Midsomer Norton, this could include elements like public realm improvements, community spaces, site planning for key sites, green spaces, housing, and transport infrastructure – considering how they all work together to provide a vibrant place to live, work and play.