Improving the experiences of visitors to Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood is the aim of a masterplan being developed.

Newark and Sherwood District Council, working closely with partners, particularly Nottinghamshire County Council and the RSPB, also wants any development in the area to bring growth to the visitor economy, create local jobs, increase visitor spending, and open up opportunities for new skills.

The masterplan will address the gap between expectations and the reality for visitors at Sherwood Forest, including the Robin Hood experience.

The district council said the plan focuses on the development of Forest Corner, close to Edwinstowe, which acts as a primary entrance point to Sherwood Forest.

Work on the masterplan and developing Forest Corner began in 2019 and an online public consultation on draft proposals took place in July 2020.

However, the priority of supporting covid recovery meant that talks between the district council, partners, and the community stalled until last September.

Since then, those behind the project have been working to develop a strong consensus on proposed changes.

Objectives in the masterplan will include creating a sense of arrival and destination, providing better connectivity to Edwinstowe High Street, developing the Robin Hood visitor offer, increasing the number of visitors and how long they stay in the area, and enabling a logical flow to the visitor journey through Sherwood Forest.

The masterplan will also seek to address traffic flow issues, consider how to mitigate negative impacts on the village, and expand the range of current businesses catering to visitors, giving them an enhanced presence in the core visitor flow.

The council said it recognises the huge value of the natural environment and remains committed to working with RSPB to ensure any changes would help to conserve and enhance the natural habitat. This could potential for training and jobs in environmental sectors.

Coun Rhona Holloway, portfolio holder of Economic Development and Visitors at the district council, said: “I welcome the news that work surrounding the development and enhancement of the Forest Corner area of Sherwood Forest is progressing.

“As an internationally-recognised landmark, we must ensure that the area provides the best possible visitor experience for tourists worldwide and works for our local community and the residents of Edwinstowe.

“Not every council can brag that they are the home of Robin Hood after all! We must maximise the potential of this area as much as possible.

“I look forward to reading the masterplan and the needed, tangible, deliverable, and transformational proposals in full in the coming months.”

The fully-developed masterplan is expected to return to the district council Cabinet for consideration in the summer.