The Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, says the town can look forward to many positive changes thanks to government funding.

The Making Mansfield Place Board has selected six projects across the district that are set to benefit from the Towns Fund.

Andy said: “The coming years will be transformational for Mansfield.

“This government funding — though perhaps less than we were hoping for — will still allow us to move forward with a number of genuinely significant projects.

“They will boost the local economy and help local businesses pave the way to more inward investment in the area and improve the quality of life and life chances of local people.

“We cannot wait to get cracking with an action plan to make a real difference to this district.”

A bid was submitted to the Government last year for 13 projects on the themes of town centres, skills and growth, transport and connectivity, health and wellbeing, and identity and brand. In awarding £12.3m, the Government said it was willing to consider that the money be used to support any of 10 specific projects.

Based on the level of funding available, the Place Board, which comprises representatives from a wide range of partner organisations, has prioritised the projects it will take forward to the next stage.

They are:

Destination Mansfield: investment in new facilities at Berry Hill Park, improved links to King George V Park, links to national cycle routes, and open-air events space to attract visitors.

Mansfield Woodhouse micro-technology units: the creation of business incubation units at Mansfield Woodhouse Station Gateway.

Smart Mansfield: an infrastructure network across the town, which could be used to support a range activities in the future. This could include providing electronic signs to direct motorists to places of interest along with signs that provide information about available parking spaces in real time to help people reach their destination more easily. This will be subject to further consultation.

Destination Mansfield branding programme: the creation of a new brand for the district supported by an annual programme of public events.

A future technology skills and knowledge exchange centre at Vision West Nottinghamshire College’s Chesterfield Road site: delivering new courses in modern technology such as electric vehicle design and maintenance, and offering opportunities for local businesses to benefit from the technological expertise of both the college and Nottingham Trent University, as well as their networks of industrial partnerships to help them create well-paid jobs in Mansfield.

Warsop Health Hub at Carr Lane Park: a 15m x 8m swimming pool, changing village, fitness suite, community and office space, multi-purpose dividable hall, café, viewing and reception area.

The total value of the six projects is £17,680,000 with additional funding of £5,380,000 still to be confirmed.

Andrew Cropley, principal and chief executive of West Nottinghamshire College and chairman of the Making Mansfield Place Board, said: “We have had to take some difficult prioritisation decisions in the light of the partial funding of our plan but I am excited by the potential for these projects to make a significant positive impact on the people and businesses of Mansfield and the surrounding communities.

I am looking forward to working with Place Board colleagues to ensure we bring them all to life.

“The Place Board will now develop detailed business cases to ensure that these projects deliver the positive impact that we all want to achieve.”

The final projects are expected to be delivered between 2022 and 2026.