Mampitts Community Hub—A new community facility for Shaftesbury
The Mampitts Community Hub is a new multi-use facility being delivered by Shaftesbury Town Council at Mampitts Green in the East of Shaftesbury. It is designed to provide a welcoming café, flexible community space, wellbeing activities, family programmes and local services for residents in Shaftesbury.
The vision for the HUB was shaped by community input from public consultation events held in 2021 and 2023. News updates can be found on this page as the project develops.
The Mampitts Advisory Committee oversees the development of the project, building on community consultation, and provides recommendations for Shaftesbury Town Council to consider. Construction is expected to start in Summer 2026.
latest news
Shaftesbury Town Council invites local contractors to engage early on the new Mampitts Community Hub
Shaftesbury Town Council has launched a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise for the construction of the new Mampitts Community Hub at Mampitts Green (SP7 8PG). The Council is inviting interest from suitable contractors, including regional contractors and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and supply chain partners to register early interest ahead of a formal tender planned for March 2026.
The project involves the construction of a new one and a half storey community hub, together with utilities, external works, new landscaping and public realm improvements that will significantly enhance the setting and create a strong community focus. The Hub is intended as a flexible, multi-use facility with a café, supporting community groups, wellbeing activities, small events, family programmes and local services.
Why this project is attractive to contractors
- The Council has designed the scheme to be a practical, buildable project well suited to regional firms. Key benefits include:
- Straightforward, conventional construction with minimal technical risk
- Coordinated design with full planning permission already secured
- Modern, energy efficient specification without excessive innovation risk
- Clear programme with a 12-month construction window
- Collaborative and responsive client team
The contract will be procured using a below threshold Open Procedure, with a JCT Intermediate Contract including Contractor’s Design Portion for specific elements.
Estimated procurement timeline
- ITT published: 11 March 2026
- Contract start date: 29 June 2026
- Indicative completion: June 2027
About the PME
This PME is intended only to identify suppliers who may wish to be notified when the tender is published. It is not part of any procurement process, and the Council is not seeking solutions, proposals, design information, or IPR related material at this stage. No evaluation or moderation will be undertaken.
How to register early interest
Contractors and supply chain partners wishing to register early interest and receive further updates should email:
confidential@shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk
(Please provide company name and contact details.)
Further tender information will be published on Find a Tender and here on the Shaftesbury Town Council website from March 2026.
4th February 2026
Variation to planning application out to consultation on Dorset Council planning portal
Following the recent public consultation to consider a different car park location at the Mampitts Community Hub, Shaftesbury Town Council has submitted a section 73 application to amend the planning application. The variation to the existing approved planning application requests a new location for the car park to the north west corner of the site, away from the road side. The application is open on Dorset Council Planning Portal to receive comments from the public until 3rd February 2026.
The new design was developed by landscape architects in response to resident concerns that the current ring parking proposal would present problematic vehicular interactions with Maple Road, and would be difficult to ensure the spaces were only used by visitors to the Mampitts Hub.
Residents are encouraged to submit their comments on the Dorset Council planning portal.
14th January 2026
New car park location agreed for Mampitts Community Hub
It was RESOLVED in the November 2025 Full Council meeting that the new proposed car park location is approved and to submit a section 73 application for the new car park layout.
The updated design responds to the feedback of local residents in our recent consultation, and over the preceding year. Residents wanted to see the car parking provision moved away from the road side, with a new location in the north west corner of the site behind the tree line. Moving the car parking will enable Shaftesbury Town Council to preserve more of the village green, the majority of which will remain, while keep the hub building in a visible location that is easily accessible to pedestrians.
A Section 73 will shortly be submitted to Dorset Council to ratify the planning permission amendment. Deputy Mayor and chair of the Mampitts Advisory Committee, Greg Williams said “I’d encourage all the residents who supported this change to stay engaged through this next part of the process.”
19th November 2025
Dorset Council Awards Funding for New Mampitts Community HUB
During their Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday 15th October 2024, Dorset Council resolved to award Section 106 (S106) funding to Shaftesbury Town Council (STC) for the development of the Mampitts Community HUB. This new facility for Shaftesbury is expected to open in 2026. The project will be funded through S106 developer contributions, with further support provided by STC.
16th October 2025