East Staffordshire Borough Council has shared plans for the regeneration of Burton upon Trent High Street – which includes a reimagined National Brewery Centre attraction.
The High Street project, already underway with the enhancement of The Washlands, to include new wetlands, wildlife habitats and forest play area, has moved on a step with the announcement of new concepts for the site.
The ambitious plans to regenerate the riverside area between the High Street and The Washlands, follows a successful bid to the Towns Fund programme and further discussions with representatives from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
So far this has resulted in an approved funding expression of interest worth £10 million.
The projects have been developed in conjunction with Sarner International Ltd, Franklin Ellis Architects and the National Brewery Heritage Trust, in consultation with council members and Burton Town Deal Board.
They include the refurbishment of Bass House into an immersive Brewing Heritage & Social History Experience.
It would also see the ongoing refurbishment of Burton Library ground floor, the Town House which will be refurbished with a range of potential future uses, and the conversion of The Water Tower to create an interactive attraction and observation experience.
There are also plans for a plaza for public events and festivals such as the recent Sonic Boom Festival, a Washlands Visitor Centre, supported by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to include exhibition space, a learning environment and café, and conversion of Carling House into a modern, upmarket hotel supporting the wider visitor experience.
People can get up close to the reimagined Brewery Centre attraction proposals, in a series of guided public tours of parts of Bass House, which will incorporate the National Brewery Heritage Archive.
Following the public tours, the concept designs for all the High Street projects will be available for public viewing at the Brewery Heritage Centre, Station Street, Burton upon Trent.
In addition, residents can also find out more about the project in a public meeting to be held at Burton Town Hall on Tuesday 12th November.
Cllr Rob Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “It is wonderful to see such progress being made on both the Brewery Heritage Centre and the wider High Street Project. To those interested in Burton’s brewing and social history I encourage you to book yourself onto one of the many guided tours around Bass House and learn more about the concept plans for the reimagined Brewery Centre.”
Dr Harry White, Chairman of the National Brewery Heritage Trust, said: “We are excited by the plans and believe the development promises to make Burton upon Trent the national hub of British brewing and pub heritage.”
