Purpose

Blueprint for future aspirations for
development and improvement in Midsomer Norton Town Centre (joint
project with Midsomer Norton Town Council).

Decision

To endorse the Imagine
Midsomer Norton Town Centre Masterplan (Appendix A of the report)
as a basis for decision making and funding bids in order to seek to
deliver the priority projects, working with Midsomer Norton Town
Council.

Reasons for the decision

The Imagine Midsomer
Norton Town Centre Masterplan has been developed in partnership
with Midsomer Norton Town Council, informed by extensive community
engagement and consultation, including with landowners. It sets out
a long-term vision for the regeneration of Midsomer Norton town
centre,
identifying priority
projects and opportunities for investment and will inform the
emerging Local Plan and support the delivery of the West of England
Growth Strategy ambitions for the Somer Valley.
 
The Masterplan builds
on the successfully completed Midsomer Norton High Street Heritage
Action Zone project (2020–2024) which catalysed and has
delivered £3.7m investment in the Town Centre. The Masterplan
aligns with the Council’s Corporate Strategy, Economic
Strategy, Green Infrastructure framework, and Transport Strategies
and it has been developed in a joint
project with Midsomer
Norton Town Council.

Alternative options considered

Not producing the
Imagine Midsomer Norton Town Centre Masterplan would mean returning
the grant secured and not reaching agreement or clarity on projects
that the community would like to see in future and would put the
Council on the backfoot when applying for funding. This is
particularly important given that there is future growth
anticipated in around the town and therefore continued investment
in infrastructure is required.