Work has started on establishing a town centre community hub in Mansfield.

Mansfield Connect would be home to public services as well as having spaces for private sector occupiers, such as food and drink outlets.

The project, which is being led by Mansfield District Council, will form a central part of its bid to round two of the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The Department for Work and Pensions, Nottinghamshire County Council, West Nottinghamshire College, Nottingham Trent University, health partners, and volunteering co-ordinator CVS have been invited to be involved in the hub.

The scheme would see the council relocate and the Civic Centre be redeveloped.

As well as improving the delivery of public services by providing a range of agencies accessible in one area, it is envisaged the new hub would generate extra footfall in the town centre.

Coun Stuart Richardson, portfolio holder for regeneration and  at the district council, said: “Moving the council to the town centre and joining forces with other authorities and public sector agencies makes a lot of sense.

“Bringing services together will make them more joined up, accessible and work better for the public.

“It will enable our customers to ‘kill two birds with one stone’ — so as well as conducting any business they may have in the hub, being in the town centre means they may stay a while, too, and perhaps visit a bank, or do some shopping, or meet friends for lunch, for instance. This increase in town centre footfall would be a win-win all round.”

A steering group to guide the development of Mansfield Connect and secure commitment from partners for their operational requirements within the new hub has been set up.

Nottinghamshire County Council has shown support for the idea of a new civic hub in Mansfield, which aligns with its wider aim of reducing its carbon footprint as more staff work from home.

The chairman of the councty’s Economic Development and Asset Management Committee, Coun Keith Girling, added: “We are looking into potential plans to move some council services in Mansfield into a potential public services hub, planned by Mansfield District Council as it looks to move into the town centre.

“It is early days, but this approach makes sense as we look to share resources and make council building more multi-functional and include things like conference facilities and, potentially, libraries.”