18 January 2024 marks one year since central government approved over £13m of Levelling Up funding for the £15.2m Ashbourne Reborn transformation programme. The exciting initiative, which is expected to finish by autumn 2025, will pave the way for a more pedestrian-friendly town centre, transformed public spaces and seven-days a week community facilities in the Link Community Hub.
Derbyshire Dales District Council Leader Steve Flitter, who sits on the Ashbourne Reborn Programme Board said:
“The District Council are fully behind this exciting project. In the past year partners have been busy drawing up designs, gaining planning permissions and preparing for delivery. Although much of this preparation is happening behind the scenes, residents and visitors can expect to see work starting on the ground from summer this year.”
The programme includes three distinct areas, one of which will transform a series of public spaces including Market Place, Victoria Square, Millennium Square and Shrovetide Walk. Planned work in the Market Place will protect and restore the Grade II listed surfaces to retain their historic character, replace and upgrade street furniture and plant trees to add much needed greenery. The second project area, comprising works to the road network through the town centre, will help transform the pedestrian experience in Ashbourne. Before and after images from programme designers Aecom show wider footways and new and improved crossings around the town centre, including St John Street.
Councillor Simon Spencer, Chairman of the Highways and Public Realm Project Board, and Derbyshire County Council’s Deputy Leader, said:
“The work that we will do to the Market Place will transform how the town centre is used, and together with the other work planned is going to make a massive difference for all those who live, work and visit the town.
“We are working hard and overcoming the challenges that projects like this bring. But you can’t carry out work like this without it causing issues. When we start onsite it will mean inconvenience, traffic issues and noise. Working with our contractors we will do all we can to let people exactly where we will be working and when.
“Once the project is finished I am sure that the changes will benefit the town for many years to come.”
The third project area focuses on a new community hub, where work is expected to begin in June this year to transform Ashbourne Methodist Church into a multi-purpose community building. In addition to the Levelling Up Funding, church partners have contributed funding and expertise to support and deliver the proposals, which will see the building of a new foyer linking three current buildings into one accessible suite, creating a flexible performance, events and worship space. Meeting rooms of various sizes will be developed for community and business use, and the Gateway Centre will be remodelled to provide affordable quality visitor accommodation. The Cornerstone Coffee Shop will be upgraded and a community garden created with ramped access (image below from Allan Joyce Architects/Ashbourne Methodist Church).
Tony Walker, leader of the Link Development Team of Ashbourne Methodist Church, said:
“A year on from the LUF announcement it is wonderful to have developed our plans and got them approved. We are looking forward to the start on site this year and seeing the plans being turned into reality.”
A short video walk-through of the planned development is available at the Ashbourne Reborn website.
In January 2023, central government approved a Levelling Up Fund (LUF) bid designed to transform the town centre. LUF is contributing £13.4m and the total programme will cost £15.2m. Ashbourne Reborn is led by Derbyshire Dales District Council working with Derbyshire County Council and Ashbourne Methodist Church as key delivery partners, in collaboration with Ashbourne Town Team, Ashbourne Town Council and AshCom. Partners will continue to work closely to ensure that residents, businesses and visitors to Ashbourne are informed and involved throughout the delivery of the project.
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