A masterplan is being developed to maximise the offering for visitors at a popular tourist destination. Newark and Sherwood District Council and partner organisations are working together to address the gap between expectations and reality for visitors at Sherwood Forest.
The plan being developed will focus on the development of Forest Corner, north of Edwinstowe, which acts as the primary entrance to Sherwood Forest and they will also be looking to improve the Robin Hood experience. Work initially began on the masterplan and developing Forest Corner in 2019, with an online public consultation on draft proposals taking place in July 2020.
The project was stalled until September 2022 to prioritise supporting coronavirus recovery in the district. Since then the District Council has been working closely with partners, such as Nottinghamshire County Council and the RSPB, to develop a plan on the short and long term ages that are needed for the area.
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It is hoped that the new plan will provide better connectivity to Edwinstowe High Street, develop the Robin Hood visitor offer, increasing visitor volume and dwell time, whilst also 'adding logic and flow to the visitor journey through Sherwood Forest'. The masterplan will also address traffic flow issues, considering how to mitigate negative impacts on the village and expanding the range of current businesses catering to visitors by giving them an enhanced presence within the visitor flow.
Councillor Rhona Holloway, Portfolio Holder of Economic Development and Visitors at Newark and Sherwood 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 village.
"Not every Council in the country 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 council hope that the plan will help grow the visitor economy in the area, create local jobs, increase visitor spending and opportunities for new skills. The High Street Task Force recently visited Edwinstowe and their recommendations on strengthening the local economy will be considered for the plan.
It is expected that the fully developed masterplan will return to Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Cabinet for consideration in summer 2023. This plan will set out short and long-term changes needed, including any further consultation or engagement.
A year-one allocation of Shared Prosperity Funding has been used by the council to commission additional traffic survey information in liaison with Nottinghamshire County Council. This data will provide a baseline against which alternative proposals to develop and can help coordinate a wider offer for Sherwood Forest.
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