In 2020 a High Street Regeneration Programme was established in Midsomer Norton. This included the designation of the town as a High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ), with £900k grant funding from Historic England. This project, the first major investment into Midsomer Norton, sought to celebrate the history and heritage of the town.
Regeneration Phase 1
We used the HAZ designation as a catalyst for further successful grant bids:
- Over £1.7m was awarded through WECA’s Love Our High Streets Fund
- £450k was awarded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
- There have also been significant contributions from B&NES Council, through the Community Infrastructure Levy and Highways Maintenance budget, and from Midsomer Norton Town Council
This regeneration programme has made possible a range of impactful projects:
- Market Square: 1,000sqm public realm improvement, creating a high-quality multi-use civic space at the heart of the town. Read the Market Square Project Plans.
- Town Hall transformation, and the reinstatement of the Victorian Market Hall. Read the Town Hall Transformation Case Study
- Renovation and enhancement of historic shopfronts and wider signage improvements throughout the High Street. Read the Shop Front Improvement Case Study.
- Improvements to public space and street furniture
- Arts events, community engagement, and a cultural programme
Imagine Midsomer Norton Town Centre Masterplan
The Imagine Midsomer Norton Town Centre Masterplan has been developed in partnership with Midsomer Norton Town Council, informed by extensive community engagement and consultation, including with landowners. The masterplan was adopted in December 2025, following a final consultation period in October 2025, and acceptance by Midsomer Norton Town Council in November 2025.
The masterplan sets out a long-term vision for the regeneration of Midsomer Norton town centre, identifying priority projects and opportunities for investment, and will inform the emerging Local Plan and support the delivery of the West of England Growth Strategy ambitions for the Somer Valley.
The masterplan area covers the historic Midsomer Norton Brewery buildings in the centre of the High Street and extends around South Road, including the large municipal car park and the whole of the lower High Street fronting the River Somer.