Business Improvement District Consultants- Town Centre Management evolution Mansfield

Mansfield is a large market town seventeen miles to the north of Nottingham in the Midlands. Formerly at the heart of the coal-mining industry in the county, devastation of the local pits brought about a substantial decline in its fortunes, despite huge amounts of regional grant aid being pumped into it. Still boasting an active and resilient outdoor market and a wide range of local and nationally known shops, the relocation of the town’s main supermarket to a free-standing, edge of town site had reduced footfall, resulting in a major decline in trading performance. Determined to fight back, the local town centre partnership sought funding to investigate the possibility of setting up a Business Improvement District.

After a very cursory feasibility study conducted by another company, pfbb UK was brought in to “pick up the pieces”, investigate local attitudes more thoroughly and then lead a dedicated team slowly and carefully through a detailed BID development process. A successful vote was declared in 2010 but a Secretary of State appeal lodged during the last general election against the decision delayed the launch of the BID Company by six months. The appeal was rightly rejected out of hand and the company rapidly launched into its innovative and entrepreneurial plans to put Mansfield back on the map. In a very delicate and sensitive political scenario, the BID continues to make progress, fighting back against the overwhelming attractions and appeal of one of the country’s most important retailing destinations. Very shortly the BID will be scrutinised by a team from pfbb UK before reporting to its membership at its first AGM.

Significant Achievements

• Creation of an innovative interactive website that extols the virtue of the diverse range of shops and services available in the town centre to a wider audience
• Strong promotional campaigns to challenge the dominance of nearby Nottingham
• A “home-grown” Ranger team has quickly made inroads into the prevalent anti-social behaviour often seen on the streets
• Swift local effort saw the redundant local Woolworths site converted to a new unit with a quality, long-term covenant
• The launch of the “I heart Mansfield” film festival 2012 has sparked much local interest and participation, giving copious up-beat material for the BID to use promotionally