A town 40 minutes from Bristol is set to get a multi-million pound makeover to restore its long-lost identity as a market destination. Midsomer Norton in the Mendip Hills is set for huge regeneration along its high street, to attract more residents and visitors.

Construction on the new £2.39m market square will commence next month, creating a new flexible 1,000m2 public space for everyday use outside the Town Hall. A spokesperson for Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “The space will become a venue for outdoor events of all sizes, positioning Midsomer Norton as a market town once more.”

Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, said: “Markets were held in Midsomer Norton as far back as 1242 and it’s exciting that a long-held vision to bring a modern Market Square to the town several hundred years later is now becoming a reality.

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“It’s going to create a welcoming and lively space that will benefit the community and local businesses, revitalising the town centre and attracting more people to discover everything Midsomer Norton has to offer. I’m also pleased that we have recently committed to creating safer and better connected active travel routes in Midsomer Norton and Westfield with a £1.5m walking, wheeling and cycling links improvement scheme.”

Market square works are part of the £3.7m Midsomer Norton High Street Regeneration Programme, Somerset Live reports, following on from the High Street Heritage Action Zone which comes to an end this spring. The action zone aimed to address issues faced along the high street.

According to the project page, it found that “the lack of investment in buildings and public spaces was highlighted and recommendations made to improve tired, run-down and poorly-altered shopfronts and remove unattractive advertisements and signage”. An £115,000 shop front improvement scheme is more than half way through, with five of eight shop fronts already spruced up.

There is also ongoing restoration of Midsomer Norton’s Town Hall, making it possible for a combination of indoor and outdoor events to be held in the town. Works will also be carried out to improve pedestrian access, make it safer for vehicles entering and exiting The Island and provide new road surfacing.

Ten car parking spaces including two disabled parking bays are part of the scheme, according to the council (B&NES). It is carrying out the regeneration with funding and support provided by Historic England, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) through its ‘Love Our High Streets’ grant programme and Midsomer Norton Town Council.

The Market Square works will start at the beginning of April and are expected to be completed by early 2025. The bus stop serving the Island will be removed on March 18 ahead of the works and a temporary stop used on Silver Street.

Cllr Roper said: “The new Market Square is an ambitious project that will take the best part of a year to complete. We apologise in advance for any disruption caused and we will keep residents and businesses informed of issues that might affect them as the works progress.”

Metro mayor Dan Norris, who oversees WECA, said: “Midsomer Norton deserves a boost. Coupled with the exciting regeneration of the Town Hall, the Market Square improvements are going to really put the town on the map. It will mean top-notch indoor and outdoor events can be held in the town.

“It’s brilliant news that this exciting project is underway as part of a £1 million-plus cash injection from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. Soon we will have a town centre that matches up to the town’s rich history and ensures a bright future.”

Councillor Gordon Mackay, Mayor of Midsomer Norton, added: “It’s wonderful to see millions of pounds of investment in Midsomer Norton’s High Street which is seeing several big-name brands moving in to join the many fantastic independent shops we already have…This is an exciting time to be living in Midsomer Norton and thanks to the people who have put in so much work to get us this far.”

The programme of works can be viewed at yourmidsomernorton.co.uk.