Conservatives welcome ambitious plans to restore the character and identity of Gainsborough town centre have been revealed in a new master plan.
Conservative-led West Lindsey District Council and Gainsborough & District Heritage Association unveiled the new heritage-led master plan at a special launch event.
Representatives from across the district were invited to the Gainsborough Heritage Centre to celebrate and learn more about the vision and objectives of the masterplan. It is intended to support and compliment the council’s investment programme to transform Gainsborough and the wider district.
Mrs. Eve Fawcett-Moralee, Director of Economic and Commercial Growth at West Lindsey District Council thanked Lathams, a specialist heritage architectural and urban design firm who compiled the plan. She said:
“We have been working on an ambitious regeneration and investment programme to positively transform both Gainsborough and the wider district.
“In order to do this, we recognise the historic town centre environment must be valued and actively supported, to secure it as an attractive and vibrant market town.
“The masterplan will help in terms of restoring the physical fabric of historic buildings in the town centre, which are in a poor condition. We will work with owners and put them in touch with technical experts and explore funding opportunities to support them.
“It will also help us to remove visually harmful features from the town centre, in particular poor quality shop fronts and other buildings which compromise the quality of the historic core.”
This master plan sets out the strategies and principles that will restore and repair Gainsborough’s historic core and safeguard its Conservation Area status, whilst delivering wider economic and social benefits.
It will be used to provide guidance and principles for the town centre and will support a range of initiatives including:
- Invest Gainsborough
- Gainsborough Neighbourhood Plan
- A review of Gainsborough Conservation area Appraisals
- Gainsborough Place Board
- The remit of the Gainsborough Development Partner, Joint Venture Programme
Mr. Andrew Birkitt, Chairman of the Gainsborough & District Heritage Association, described the master plan as ‘a vision for the towns future that reflects the traditions of its past. He said:
“In our role at the Heritage Centre we are custodians of the town’s rich past, and in this project, all involved are purveyors of its future. I am excited to be involved in a project that is shaping that future, into what will ultimately become our generations’ heritage legacy.”
Find out more at: www.investgainsborough.com