Newark Town Centre

This website provides information on Newark Town Centre's new Masterplan, which will help shape new buildings, spaces and activities.

HELLO AND WELCOME!

A Masterplan for Newark Town Centre will help to shape new buildings, spaces and activities in the town centre. It is a long-term plan which sets out where and how physical spaces in the town centre can and should change. We want to look to the future whilst also protecting the special character of the town. We are working with Historic England to help understand how your historic town can meet the needs and wishes of modern life.

Thank you to all who shared their ideas and thoughts for the town centre during our first stage of engagement in October 2023.

Workshops and market stall information stand during October 2023


THE CONVERSATION SO FAR

The first stage of the consultation process took place during October and November 2023, and included a range of both online and in-person events. The aim of these events was to provide people with information on the project, and gather people's stories, big ideas and thoughts of what they loved about Newark, and also how they felt the town could be improved.

Our events included the launch of our project website and survey. We also held several in-person events, including a two hour workshop, which 65 local people attended, and stall in the Market Place, to informally chat to people. The team also carried out three focus group meetings; two were with local businesses owners, and the other with 59 Newark College students.

Thank you to the huge number of people who participated in our events and filled in our survey. There were 1,550 survey responses, and we received over 350 comments at the market stall event. You told us a lot of different things which you love about Newark Town Centre, but also things which you found challenging or which you'd like to see improved.

These were the key topics that were brought up and discussed:

THE VISION

Since we spoke to you, we have been working to develop all your thoughts and ideas into a strategic and realistic vision for the town centre. The collective vision for Newark Town Centre is:

Our vision for Newark Town Centre is for it to continue to thrive as one of England’s best market towns, celebrated for a compact walkable centre that sustains an excellent mix of shops, services and community activities with the Market Place at the heart. Newark’s historic places and riverside will contribute to the excellent quality of life of its residents as well as attracting visitors, with its character defined by beautiful buildings and attractive green streets and spaces. It will be economically resilient by providing a diverse mix of places to shop, meet, live, work and study.

THE THEMES

This vision is supported by six themes which are set out below. Each theme is explained through a series of principles and objectives.

The Market Place at the heart of the community

  • An attractive mix of shops, businesses and market stalls, including places to eat, drink and socialise will radiate out from the Market Place and appeal to a wider range of users
  • The Market Place will be a vibrant, buzzing and social space throughout the day and evening, where cafés, bars and restaurants will provide outdoor seating that spills into the square
  • The Market Place will provide opportunities for play and relaxation through a series of landscaping initiatives
  • Market Place interventions will design out crime directly, as well as integrating light-touch and discrete safety measures, such as CCTV
  • Lighting in the Market Place will highlight specific buildings, activities, entrances and pathways in the space. Lighting will be sensitive to the historic fabric, and make the space safe and enjoyable for users
  • The design of the Market Place will ensure that it can remain flexible throughout the year to support a range of activities, events and movement. A well-curated and promoted calendar of markets and events will bring energy and a range of people to the town centre

A beautiful historic centre which supports the needs and wishes of its community and promotes a resilient and thriving economy

  • Support and enhance heritage assets and settings, including sensitive redevelopment of historic buildings for modern uses and improved energy efficiency, and ensuring new buildings are historically informed
  • Support the thriving independent retail sector
  • Increase the town centre’s residential population through shop conversions, upper floor conversions, and redevelopment of key opportunity sites
  • Support the offer of a diverse range of uses in the town centre throughout the day and night, balancing retail with leisure and community uses, and catering for all backgrounds and ages
  • Continue to support the work undertaken by the Heritage Action Zone fund to improve and restore historic shop fronts to enhance the historic environment
  • Newark’s public spaces will be greener to minimise surface water run-off, improve resilience during extreme weather events, increase biodiversity, provide shelter and shade, and improve appearance

A town that celebrates education, excellence and creativity

  • Support the continued presence of further education and high quality skills training in the town centre
  • Celebrate and support the town’s musical presence and heritage, working with Newark’s internationally renowned violin and piano makers, as well as promoting musical education
  • Community creativity and creative enterprises will be celebrated and shared through the showcasing of local artists’ work at exhibitions, markets, fairs and other events
  • The creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) will support local businesses in Newark and help with joined up thinking and collective promotion
  • Grow and empower local businesses, enterprises and lone-workers by creating flexible co-working spaces in the town centre

An accessible town based around safe, active and sustainable travel

  • Improved wayfinding to key destinations, especially for cyclists and walkers, will create safer and more attractive routes
  • Creative wayfaring will celebrate Newark’s culture, creativity, community and heritage, whilst improving legibility of the town
  • Improve pavements, junctions and spaces to make walking, wheeling and cycling safe and comfortable for everyone
  • Improve walking and cycling infrastructure to encourage a shift towards more sustainable means of transport by making active travel a more attractive, accessible and convenient option
  • Support improved bus accessibility around the town centre to key retail areas and community facilities
  • Provide vehicle access and parking to best meet the varied needs of people using the town centre
  • Establish an environment that is inclusive, including being child friendly, comfortable for older people and accessible to those with disabilities

A town which embraces its riverside and green spaces

  • Create clear and continuous riverside routes for walking and cycling to better integrate the riverside into the town centre
  • Deliver a new flood resilient public space on the town wharf which provides a space for relaxation and socialising on the riverside, whilst creating a gateway into the town centre
  • A resilient flood strategy will make specific improvements to areas within the flood zone, including the flood alleviation scheme at Tolney Road to ensure residents retain safe access during floods
  • Work with The Canals and River Trust to improve the facilities at the Town Lock by bringing more leisure activities to the area and celebrate its long history and role in the growth of Newark through events such as open days
  • New benches, improved lighting, play and ‘hang out’ spaces for teenagers will encourage more people to enjoy the green spaces

A town that communicates a confident story about its past and present

  • Communicate Newark’s story as a town at the heart of English History, through interpretive signage, town trails and events which celebrate the historic buildings and events which have shaped Newark. This could include signage with historic photographs and maps to show how key places, such as the warehouses, by the river played a key role in Newark’s growth
  • Celebrate Newark’s modern history and stories, including its musicians, local business owners, antiques centre, and community heroes
  • Present a strong, clear and consistent presence of town centre events through printed and online information. This could include a physical presence in the town centre, such as a visitor information point, and signage at key nodes including stations and car parks
  • Develop a high quality website to showcase the town’s activities, events, walking routes and key landmark buildings
  • Develop a strong brand and visual identity for the town to promote civic pride and celebrate community

If you have any feedback, you can email the team on: Economic.Growth@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk

THANK YOU!


ABOUT THE PROJECT

“We want to plan ahead for a sustainable future for Newark. It is a great place for people to live, work and visit and in the future we want to make sure we keep all that is good and improve on it. To do this we are developing a Masterplan for Newark Town Centre, looking at the physical environment, our buildings and spaces and how they are used and how they could be used; we want you to enjoy spending time in the Town Centre. To help us achieve this we need to know what you love most about your town and what you think could make the area better. Please let us know your thoughts!"  - Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council 

What is a Masterplan?

The Masterplan is a document which will outline a vision for the town centre. The vision is something that we can all get behind and sets out an intention of what kind of town we want Newark to be. Underpinning this vision will be some key objectives. An example of an objective could be ‘revitalising the riverfront’ or 'creating safer walking routes to key destinations'.

Based on inputs from the local community, the Masterplan will give suggestions about positive changes that can be made in the town to help achieve these objectives.

Why does Newark Town Centre need a Masterplan?

The Masterplan will be used to guide decisions about development and changes in your town centre. We all want to see Newark continue to be a prosperous town that people want to live in, work in, and visit.

There are a number of areas and sites which have the opportunity to add something more to Newark Town Centre. The Masterplan will help to explore the options for what these sites could be and how best they will serve the community. The majority of these sites have been established as part of Newark's 'Town Investment Plan'. There are a number of additional sites which the Council have identified, by virtue of location, size and/or what’s on there.

A lot of the work in creating a Masterplan is understanding local needs and challenges, and looking at future social, economic and environmental trends. It will set out things that can be implemented both in the short term and longer term.

What is a design code?

A design code is a set of simple, concise design requirements for new development in an area. New development can mean anything from a single new house or shop, to multiple houses, or even extensions and changes to current buildings. 

The government’s   National Planning Policy Framework  makes clear that all local planning authorities should prepare Design Codes. The aim of the Newark Town Centre Design Code is to reflect local character and design preferences; providing a framework for creating high-quality design in the town. The code will have different design requirements tailored to reflect the character of the individual areas within the town.

National guidance sets out 10 characteristics of good design. The code for Newark Town Centre will reflect these priorities and topics where appropriate:

  1. Context - Local character and built heritage
  2. Movement – Street design and transport type
  3. Nature - Design of green infrastructure and the protection of biodiversity
  4. Built form - Density, built form and urban design
  5. Identity - Character of buildings
  6. Public space - Design and of streets and public spaces
  7. Uses – Places to work, shop and play
  8. Homes and buildings – Space standards and accessibility
  9. Resources – Addressing sustainability and climate change adaptation
  10. Lifespan – Creating and maintaining a legacy

Why does Newark Town Centre need a Design Code?

Newark is an historic town with a wealth of impressive and beautiful heritage buildings and spaces. We want to make sure the historic character is preserved and, where possible, enhanced. At the same time we understand the need to make changes to some of our buildings and spaces so that the town can continue to meet the needs of the people who use it, now and in the future.

Historic England are funding the Design Code as an exemplar case study for historic town centres. The Newark Town Centre Design Code will help architects, developers, planners and other built environment professionals to ensure that any form of development reinforces the local character.


NEWARK TOWN CENTRE'S HISTORIC EVOLUTION

The way Newark Town Centre looks and the amenities that it has to offer today is a result of hundreds of years of development. Scroll through the slides to see how Newark Town Centre has evolved over centuries and what the key factors in its growth and character were.

Look at the growth of Newark over time.

Much of its development derives from its location at the intersection of major communication routes: the River Trent, the Roman Fosse Way and the Great North Road. It became a substantial inland port, particularly for the wool trade. Later, its position on main roads encouraged the development of inns and hostels to sustain travellers passing through.

The first bridge was built in Newark in 1135 which unlocked a key connection of the future Great North Road. This established Newark as a strategic location as it was the only crossing point downstream of Nottingham.

The mills and crossing points around Newark

It was also around this time that the first markets started happening, paving a way for weekly markets ever since.

Between 1643-1646, the English Civil War raged, with Newark at the heart of events. There were three sieges which mean that Newark's population was shut in. During this time, many Medieval timber framed buildings were dismantled and used for fortifications. However, because of the town's stronghold against enemy forces, many of Newark's old buildings and structures do remain.

In the late 1700s improvements to the Great North Road were made, elevating it above the floodplain. Throughout the 1800s improvements to the River Trent were made, and industry including brewing, textile tanning and engineering emerged. In turn this resulted in residential areas expanding to accommodate workers. The railways were also built, increasing trade. The population grew from under 7,000 in 1800 to over 15,000 by the end of the century.

Newark Town Centre didn't suffer directly from the bombing from the two world wars. Following the wars, extensive expansion happened, reflecting the increase in need for housing for workers in the town. During the mid 1900s, quite a lot of historic buildings were replaced with newer ones.

Post-war, the increase in private cars led to the construction of the A1 bypass in 1964, and the much anticipated A46 relief road to the north of the town in the 1980s.

In 1968 Newark’s Conservation Area was designated and areas including Millgate and the riverside were regenerated to improve the access and appearance following the decline of industrial uses.

To the east of the town, the loss of breweries and maltings in the late 20th century gave way to retail parks. 

(photograph right of Northgate in 1967)

This history has shaped Newark Town Centre. Since the first people settled in Newark, their industries, businesses and policies have shaped the environment of Newark Town Centre.


CHARACTER AREAS

In February 2022, a draft Conservation Area Appraisal was developed. The appraisal revises the conservation area boundary and identifies nine character areas. These have been defined by their predominant historic character, design and current use. The Masterplan and Design Code will focus on these character areas. Click on the pins or the map on the tabs on the left hand side to read about each character area.

Area 1: Medieval Core

The medieval core preserves the enchanting history of Newark dating back to Medieval times. There are alleyways protruding out from the Market Place, old timber framed buildings and narrow streets.

Area 2: Friary

Located on the eastern edge of the historic core, the small area varies architecturally. Friary Gardens provides quality open space. Appleton Gate, King’s Road and Queen’s Road are wide which can make this area feel less suited to pedestrians. From Queen’s Road, St Mary Magdalen’s spire can be seen.

Area 3: Barnby Gate

The area features buildings with red brick material. The buildings are mainly two to three storeys. Residential building features small front gardens and bay windows on the ground floor. There are a number of Grade II listed buildings on Barnby Gate.

Area 4: College Quarter

Mainly residential, the College Quarter predominately features Victorian and Edwardian residential villas and terrace housing with fenced private garden in front, contributing to a consistent building line, as well as gardens at the rear. Its name sake is the college building built in the 1930s in neo-classical style.

Area 5: Northgate Station Quarter

The main connection from the Northgate Station sees a transition from detached villas to Victorian terrace housing. There are also a few remaining brewery buildings along George Street. The area surrounding the station is not representative of the remaining character area; here the area is cluttered and dominated by car parking and the roads.

Area 6: North Gate

The North Gate Quarter used to be the concentration point of Newark’s flourishing brewing and malting industries during the 19th and 20th century. With the decline of the industry led to large scale demolition and vacant sites. This has led to repeated breaks in the building line. It has a riverside setting which is largely industrial in nature.

Area 7: Mill Gate and Sconce

Well-preserved Medieval character with narrow streets and strong building line. It has an intimate and historic feel for this reason. Traffic calming measures have been sensitively designed. The human-scale of the street is enforced by the two to three storey height and unbroken terraces. There are a few remaining malting buildings in this area. Many Medieval buildings have had Georgian and Victorian facades put on. The area is typified by Georgian architecture.

Area 8: Riverside

Contrast between the western and eastern side of the river with the Eastern side populated with old industrial building and west with large open areas. Larger building footprint due to the site’s industrial nature in the past with hidden narrow lanes leading to the waterfront. The area provides an important view points to Newark’s significant historic assets such Newark Castle, The tower and spire of St Mary Magdalen’s Church tower.

Area 9: London Road

Transition from the more town centre character to the more residential one embarking on a suburban character. It includes some of Newark’s most impressive residential villas and early terraced housing which is set among mature greenery. The area is also an important thoroughfare to and out of the town. Buildings are predominately brick and two to three storeys.

Area 1: Medieval Core

The medieval core preserves the enchanting history of Newark dating back to Medieval times. There are alleyways protruding out from the Market Place, old timber framed buildings and narrow streets.

Key features:

  • Narrow alleys and streets
  • Red brick materials
  • Sash windows
  • Lots of windows in buildings
  • Varied roofscape and heights (though predominantly 2-3 storeys)
  • Narrow buildings
  • Pedestrian focussed

Area 2: Friary

Located on the eastern edge of the historic core, the small area varies architecturally. Friary Gardens provides quality open space. Appleton Gate, King’s Road and Queen’s Road are wide which can make this area feel less suited to pedestrians. From Queen’s Road, St Mary Magdalen’s spire can be seen.

Key features:

  • Fragmented developments with varied architectural style
  • Abundant use of red brick
  • Larger building footprints such as Morrisons
  • Some wide roads which can feel like pedestrians do not have priority

Area 3: Barnby Gate

The area features buildings with red brick material. The buildings are mainly two to three storeys. Residential building features small front gardens and bay windows on the ground floor. There are a number of Grade II listed buildings on Barnby Gate.

Key features:

  • Strong boundary and building line among historic buildings which sometimes is disrupted by modern development
  • Roofing: clay pantile roof, pitched and gable with chimney stacks
  • Red brick materials
  • Sash windows
  • Green nature

Area 4: College Quarter

Mainly residential, the College Quarter predominately features Victorian and Edwardian residential villas and terrace housing with fenced private garden in front, contributing to a consistent building line, as well as gardens at the rear. Its name sake is the college building built in the 1930s in neo-classical style.

Key features:

  • Private front garden which provide the main source of greenery
  • Architecturally important Victorian and Edwardian buildings on Wellington Road
  • Bay windows on the ground floor or upper level
  • Two to three storeys
  • Side access via alley

Area 5: Northgate Station Quarter

The main connection from the Northgate Station sees a transition from detached villas to Victorian terrace housing. There are also a few remaining brewery buildings along George Street. The area surrounding the station is not representative of the remaining character area; here the area is cluttered and dominated by car parking and the roads.

Key features:

  • Victorian terrace housing
  • Two remaining maltings
  • Tall chimney stacks
  • Narrow pavements along wide roads
  • Front gardens with greenery
  • Mature trees

Area 6: North Gate

The North Gate Quarter used to be the concentration point of Newark’s flourishing brewing and malting industries during the 19th and 20th century. With the decline of the industry led to large scale demolition and vacant sites. This has led to repeated breaks in the building line. It has a riverside setting which is largely industrial in nature.

Key features:

  • No public open spaces
  • Inconsistent building lines and larger building footprints
  • Typical red brick materials used for buildings
  • Pavements are patchy and tarmac
  • Street lamps dominate the street
  • Few pedestrian crossing points

Area 7: Mill Gate and Sconce

Well-preserved Medieval character with narrow streets and strong building line. It has an intimate and historic feel for this reason. Traffic calming measures have been sensitively designed. The human-scale of the street is enforced by the two to three storey height and unbroken terraces. There are a few remaining malting buildings in this area. Many Medieval buildings have had Georgian and Victorian facades put on. The area is typified by Georgian architecture.

Key features:

  • Long terraces with few breaks and tightly spaced
  • Most buildings or their boundary wall sit against the pavement edge
  • Uncluttered public realm due to no on street parking

Area 8: Riverside

Contrast between the western and eastern side of the river with the Eastern side populated with old industrial building and west with large open areas. Larger building footprint due to the site’s industrial nature in the past with hidden narrow lanes leading to the waterfront. The area provides an important view points to Newark’s significant historic assets such Newark Castle, The tower and spire of St Mary Magdalen’s Church tower.

Key features:

  • Industrial feel mixed with greenery
  • Views to key historic landmarks
  • Typically red brick buildings
  • Wharf yards
  • Wharf buildings built up to river edge
  • Newark dry dock which is the largest inland dry dock in the UK
  • Tow paths and footpaths crossing river over the locks
  • Open green leisure space mixed with large car park areas to the west
  • Mature trees transition the town into a more rural setting and shield built up areas including the car parks

Area 9: London Road

Transition from the more town centre character to the more residential one embarking on a suburban character. It includes some of Newark’s most impressive residential villas and early terraced housing which is set among mature greenery. The area is also an important thoroughfare to and out of the town. Buildings are predominately brick and two to three storeys.

Key features:

  • Brick buildings
  • Two to three storeys tall
  • London Road provides a thoroughfare to and from the town and has a wider nature
  • Many houses set back from road with front gardens
  • Mature and abundant greenery
  • Historic feel and impressive gateway to Newark

Photographs of Newark which positively contribute to the public realm and streetscape


NEWARK TOWN CENTRE TODAY

We are building up a picture of how Newark Town Centre has been formed, and how it functions today. In doing so, we are learning about what makes the town centre special, what needs to be protected and what should be improved in the future. We are also discovering some of the key challenges which the Masterplan will need to address.

This section shows you just some of the information we have been looking at and gives you a chance to think about how the Masterplan can inform community needs.

Land uses

The majority of uses within Newark Town Centre are retail based, with a concentration of restaurants and cafes located along Castle Gate and Bar Gate. The number of vacant units within the town centre has steadily increased over the last ten years.

Town Centre Living

The Masterplan must ensure that Newark Town Centre fully provides for the needs of all residents. It will also look for opportunities to expand town centre living to further diversify town centre land uses, which will add to the vibrancy of the town. The Masterplan and Design Code will look at how and where new housing can be incorporated.

Green spaces and the river

Newark's setting alongside the River Trent and its surrounding natural landscape, including Riverside Park give the town a green and open feel. The town itself has several small-medium green spaces within it, giving people opportunity for respite, such as the Castle Gardens, St Mary's Remembrance Gardens and Friary Park. Further out, Sconce and Devon Park provides a larger open green space.

River Trent

Newark Castle Grounds

Travel and movement

Newark is very well connected by road and rail, with two train stations and a number of strategic networks (including the A46, A617 A1 and A17). There is currently only one road across the River Trent (Great North Road, B6326), which can get congested due to the level crossing at Newark Castle Station.

Newark is somewhat well connected to the local neighbourhoods, villages and town by bus routes, however there are some villages with no direct bus links.

The inner town centre is pedestrianised in some parts and on the roads radiating out of the centre, there are some cycle lanes, though these could be improved.

Heritage

As you have read in the historic evolution of Newark, the town has a rich and varied past. Within Newark’s Conservation Area, there are 348 listed buildings, of which four are Grade I and 11 are Grade II*. There are also five Scheduled Ancient Monuments and one Registered Park and Garden. Both individually and collectively, these heritage assets are extremely significant to Newark.

There are lots of Newark's historic buildings that have had newer uses over the years, such as the Warwicks and Richardsons brewery, which is now housing, and the Buttermarket, which was originally a covered market, and now hosts restaurants, shops and the Inspire Centre.

Newark Castle

Newark Town Hall

Climate Resilience

Many of the older buildings in Newark Town Centre need to be upgraded to improve their There are very few top ratings of band A and B (lettable after 2030). There is a large proportion of Newark that has a current energy efficiency rating of band C and below (unlettable after 2027). There are many listed buildings in the town centre which are exempt from EPC rating, but improving their energy efficiency will reduce energy bills.

Addressing climate resilience and delivering sustainable development will mean that the Masterplan and design code will look at ways in which existing buildings could improve their energy efficiency, and where we could introduce more greenery and planting in the town centre. Click to see how this could improve the energy efficiency rating in Newark.

Building heights

Newark is a low rise town with most buildings between 2-3 storeys high. As building designs and their ages vary greatly, they give a pleasant mix of roofscapes and heights.

High Status buildings, such as the Corn Exchange, are taller to create an impressive and imposing feel, and act as a landmark in the town.

St Mary Magdalen Church spire reaches 72m, the highest in Nottinghamshire. It can be seen from many locations around the town and punctuates Newark’s skyline.

St Mary Magdalen Church spire

Market Square South Street Elevation

Your views are important. What you tell us will be used to help us create a town centre that reflects your wants and needs.

Producing a Masterplan and a Design Code for the town is only possible with the involvement of our residents, businesses, workers and visitors. These two documents will support the Local Plan and shape development and growth in the town over the next decade and help to support the needs of the local community. They will provide more specific detail and guidance on how existing and emerging policies should be implemented and applied.


NEXT STEPS

We will use your feedback to shape and create the vision and objectives for the Masterplan, and start to put together options for the town centre.

Stage 1

October 2023 Initial stage of consultation to understand your thoughts, likes, needs and desires for Newark

Stage 2

March 2024 We will share feedback from the the first stage of engagement and a draft vision for the Town Centre

Stage 3

Summer 2024 (date TBC) Draft masterplan and design code are presented to the public

River Trent

Newark Castle Grounds

Newark Castle

Newark Town Hall

St Mary Magdalen Church spire

The mills and crossing points around Newark