Mendip District Council has commissioned environmental and planning consultants LUC to develop a Masterplan for Shepton Mallet town centre.

The Masterplan will form the basis for funding bids for future regeneration and environmental projects in the town.

The consultants have identified a range of issues and opportunities based on mapping many key features and characteristics in the town and their initial discussions with Shepton Town Council.

LUC will be launching these opportunities online for consultation with residents during October.

Consultation with the local community is taking place over the coming weeks both on-line through a Consultation Hub until November 1, and in person at the Shepton Mallet Library tomorrow (October 1).

Cllr Garfield Kennedy, portfolio holder for planning and development management at Mendip District Council, said: "This is an excellent opportunity to be involved in shaping the future for Shepton Mallet town centre and I warmly encourage local residents to have their say and feedback on the opportunities in identified so far, and to contribute their ideas."

The council will be using the Masterplan to develop and support funding bids from the Government Levelling Up Fund.

The Levelling Up Fund which was announced at the 2020 Government Spending Review. Bids to the fund are based on Parliamentary Constituencies and focus around three themes - smaller transport projects that make a genuine difference to local areas; town centre and high street regeneration; and support for maintaining and expanding cultural and heritage assets.

The online consultation portal will go live today (September 30) here: www.mendip.gov.uk/sci

If you have any questions on the masterplan and the online portal, contact the Planning Policy team by email at [email protected].