Construction work to create a new welcoming and attractive market square in Midsomer Norton have started.

New graphics show how the public space outside the town hall will look once completed in early 2025, boasting a market square that can be used for community and commercial events of all sizes.

Once finished, the market square will be able to accommodate up to 21 full-size stalls and has been designed with flexibility in mind.

The scheme will also improve the area for pedestrians, provide new road surfacing which will make it safer for vehicles entering and exiting The Island.

The £2.39m scheme is part of the £3.7m Midsomer Norton High Street Regeneration Programme, which follows on from the successful High Street Heritage Action Zone project funded by Historic England, with funding and support provided by Historic England, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority through its ‘Love Our High Streets’ grant programme and Midsomer Norton Town Council.

The high street regeneration programme has also seen the recent completion of a £115k shopfront improvement scheme for eight shops, making them more attractive and in keeping with Midsomer Norton’s conservation area.

Adrienne Lynch, from Somer Printing, was one of the business owners to benefit from the shopfront improvement scheme. Adrienne said: “The High Street Regeneration Programme has been a fantastic improvement to the area so far and especially to our small business. What the architect created is very eye-catching and complements the area well. 

“There has been an enormous amount of our customers commenting on how fabulous the building now looks thus much improving their overall experience of shopping on the High Street. It has greatly improved, not just the look of our building, but the look of the whole area surrounding us. We hope it rubs off on other local shops to encourage them to improve their premises so that they too can gain the benefits we have seen as it's most definitely worth it. Thank you to all concerned.”

Sarah Malik at Jacarandas said: “This was a fantastic scheme helping small businesses and our high street. Much appreciated.”

The other shops that benefitted from the improvement scheme were Nisi, Pure Taste, Sewing Sanctuary, Rose Crafts, Fox & Kit and Canine Class.

The programme of works for the Market Square can be viewed at yourmidsomernorton.co.uk and updates will be added to the website as the works progress.