Place Vision
Midsomer Norton will become the go-to place for people living in, working in and visiting the Somer Valley. The town centre will be known as a welcoming gateway to Somerset’s natural beauty, and for its quirky and eco-friendly shopping. Its calendar of unique community-led events - such as wassailing, the town fayre and the illuminated carnival - will strengthen its individual character and its connections to historic seasonal rural activity.
The town centre will be recognised and celebrated for its local history, still visible in distinctive heritage buildings like the Italianate Town Hall, medieval tithe barn, high street almshouses, and rows of miners’ cottages. Mixed-use town centre development will focus on the Old Brewery Quarter, which comprises the lower end of the high street and centres on the Old Brewery buildings, also known as the former Bob’s Palais or Savoy Rooms.
Town centre development sites will blend sustainability with heritage conservation, showcasing the town’s rich architectural history while offering much-needed affordable housing, flexible space for businesses, leisure facilities and a more diverse job market. Thoughtful transport planning will ensure accessibility, with pedestrian-friendly streets, safe cycling routes, and well-integrated public transport options reducing car dependency and enhancing connectivity.
The River Somer will remain a special asset for the high street, acting as an important, wildlife-rich habitat that improves community wellbeing, biodiversity and urban cooling. Connections to Midsomer Norton Town Park, and other local natural spaces will be improved, and public spaces on the high street will be further enhanced and greened to give visitors more opportunities to enjoy nature on their doorstep, whilst also adapting to our changing climate and allowing wildlife to thrive.