A former Nottinghamshire British Home Stores (BHS) unit is to become a food hall after councillors gave plans the thumbs up.
The former BHS in Mansfield’s West Gate has been empty for a decade after the department store chain collapsed in 2016.
But exciting proposals sent to Mansfield District Council recently showed how it could be turned into a prime town centre destination with an arcade, bars, cafes, dessert shops, dart boards and pool tables, a cookery college and seven different food vendors.
Separate planning permission for the development of the former BHS was previously granted in 2025 – a proposal that looked to use the top floor for storage and “light industrial” purposes, while the ground floor would be maintained as a retail venue.
While the top floor is now being utilised for those purposes, no work has taken place below, leaving the ex-department store open to new proposals.
Documents say that the new venue would welcome “small independent food operators, start-up food businesses and pop-ups” for its food hall element and would include a shared communal seating area.
There will also be seating out at the front of the building, which will be transformed with new windows, entrances and “stone-effect” cladding over the existing brickwork.
The existing canopy which juts out over the street will be removed, plans say.
The cookery college would be a “small, enclosed space within the building offering structured classes, training, and community events, including part-time and full-time educational sessions for different age groups and interests.”
Due to the significance and size of the project, Mansfield District Council’s planning committee met on Monday (March 16) to decide on the plans.
Presenting it to councillors, a planning officer said that the food hall would be the “only unit of its kind” in Mansfield, with developments of the like usually being seen more frequently in cities such as Sheffield.
He referenced the Sheffield Plate and the Cutlery Works in that city as examples of how the Mansfield unit may look.
Conditions of the council’s approval were opening hours of 9am until midnight for the unit.
Speaking on behalf of the applicant, RG property, agent Ms Chan said: “This will create jobs, bring footfall back to West Gate and have a positive impact on the wider high street. The scheme delivers clear economic benefits and a positive contribution to the conservation area.”
Councillors were welcoming to the scheme too, with Councillor Jack Stephenson (Lab) saying: “It’s great to see it coming back into use. I’ve lived in Mansfield for over 10 years now and I can’t really remember that building having anything there. It’s right up my street. I can’t wait to visit.”
Meeting chair, Cllr Andy Wetton (Lab) said: “I think we all welcome the reuse of this building. It’s long overdue and it’ll be a great addition to the town centre that’s been ailing for some time. It’s really welcome to see it come back into use.”
And Cllr Richard Tempest-Mitchell (Lab) said: “It’s a lovely building. It deserves to be used. People complain that shops are closing and nothing else is coming. Mansfield District Council are clearly doing a fantastic job to make sure these shops are coming back into use.”
The vote was passed unanimously.
By Joseph Connolly (Local Democracy Reporter)
