The future of a building that was last used as a café back in 2022 has been confirmed.
A former café in Newark’s market place, which is next to Toni and Guy, will now become a new art school after plans were approved.
It had more recently been used by Lily’s Café and Tea Rooms, while a vacant apartment sits on the floors above.
Newark and Sherwood District Council, which is in the process of regenerating the market place, tabled plans to bring it back to life as an art school.
Plans were unanimously given the go-ahead at a meeting on Thursday (July 2).
Cllr Tim Wildgust (Con) said: “What a good idea. Let’s get on with it.”
The council, which submitted the plans itself, said the vacant unit would be let out to an external operator, but the name is yet to be revealed.
Plans come as the authority is spending £3.6 million regenerating the market place, including planting trees and putting in benches, as well as making the area more accessible by flattening some potentially hazardous cobbled areas.
This will make it wheelchair and pram friendly, the council says.
Some of the market stalls will be confined to a smaller area, to make the most of the space for other events and alfresco dining opportunities.
The authority is hoping to begin work in January 2027, with completion expected 11 to 12 months later.
However, these overall plans have come under scrutiny from some town council members.
Meanwhile, the art school plans did not receive any objections, and have been widely supported.
Bill Davidson, of Newark Business Club Action Group, welcomed the plans and said: “We consider it would enhance the prospects and profitability of the associated undertaking to the benefit of Newark’s business environment, visitors and residents.”
The site is located within what the council says is a “highly sensitive historical location”, with high quality listed buildings, including the Grade I Newark Town Hall and St Mary Magdalene Church, being located nearby.
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter