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
Mampitts Community Hub takes major step forward with local charity grant
Shaftesbury Town Council has announced a significant funding boost for the Mampitts Community Hub project, following a substantial grant from the William Williams charity. The contribution marks a key milestone in the development, bringing the project closer to full funding ahead of a final investment decision. The new funding reduces the remaining financial gap to below £200,000.
Chair of the Mampitts Advisory Committee and Deputy Mayor Cllr Greg Williams said,
“On behalf of the town council and the people of Shaftesbury, we are very grateful for this substantial donation from a fantastic local charity.
“With William Williams’ support, the project moves closer to being fully funded, with the gap between projected costs and funding now below £200,000.
“We would gratefully receive any further donations by the 22nd May as the town council gears up for the final investment decision.”
Section 73 planning application approved for revised car park at Mampitts Community Hub
The Section 73 planning application to amend the approved plans for the Mampitts Community Hub has now been approved by Dorset Council.
The application relates specifically to the location and layout of the car park at the Mampitts Community Hub site on Mampitts Green. The revised design was developed in response to concerns raised by people living near the site, particularly about traffic on Maple Road and how the car park would be used. The approval means the updated layout can now move forward as part of the wider project.
Following a public consultation in October 2025 and a resolution at the Full Council meeting in November 2025, the Town Council submitted a Section 73 application to Dorset Council. A Section 73 application is a request to make a change to an existing planning permission. In this case, the council asked for approval to move the car park to the north-west corner of the site, away from the roadside.
The revised design followed feedback from residents who felt the original ring-parking layout could lead to difficult vehicle movements and make it harder to ensure the spaces were used only by visitors to the hub. A majority of respondents to the consultation supported the new layout.
The approval means the revised car park design will now form part of the overall Mampitts Community Hub project. The council will continue to move the project forward using the updated layout.
The Mampitts Community Hub is planned as a new multi-use facility for the east of Shaftesbury. It will provide a space for residents to meet in a café and hall area, alongside landscaped outdoor space. The hub will also support local groups, wellbeing activities, family programmes, training sessions and small community events.
Cllr Greg Williams, Chair of the Mampitts Advisory Committee, said:
“We asked people what they thought, and most residents told us they preferred the new layout. We’re pleased we’ve been able to take that feedback on board and move forward with a design that works better for the community.”
The next step is to appoint a main contractor through an open, single-stage tender process. The tender is now live, with a submission deadline of 20th April 2026. After the tender period closes, submissions will be evaluated and further updates will be shared as the project moves into the next stage.
Further information will be published on the council website as it becomes available.
25th March 2026
Tender now live for community hub at Mampitts Green
The tender process for the construction of the new community hub at Mampitts Green is now live.
This marks an important step in delivering a new, flexible community space that will give residents a place to come together in the café, hall space, and surrounding landscaped area. The Hub will also give access to local groups, wellbeing activities, family programmes, training sessions and small events, helping to meet the needs of a growing neighbourhood.
The Council is seeking to appoint a main contractor through an open, single-stage tender process. The works will include construction of the one-and-a-half storey building, installation of utilities, and improvements to external areas and landscaping to enhance the overall setting and public space. The project has full planning approval.
The planned construction period is from July 2026 for 12 months.
View the Mampitts Community Hub Construction Contract on Find a Tender
Key dates for the tender process
Enquiry deadline: 7th April 2026, 11:59pm
Tender submission deadline: 20th April 2026, 9:00am
Tenders are to be submitted by email to confidential@shaftesbury-tc.gov.uk by the stated deadline.
Following the close of the tender period, submissions will be evaluated and further updates will be provided as the project moves into the next stage.
18th March 2026
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
Usage and car park design feedback survey
Shaftesbury Town Council is inviting residents to share their views on a new proposed car park design for the planned Mampitts Community Hub, and to provide further input on how the Hub could be used.
The revised design has been developed by landscape architects in response to local feedback about the earlier “ring parking” design. Concerns were raised about traffic movements on Maple Road and ensuring that parking spaces would be reserved for hub visitors. The new design addresses these issues by introducing a single controlled access point, which could be managed by a bollard or gate.
While this design offers improvements, it will also come at a higher cost — an estimated £50,000–£70,000 more than the current plan. The Council would like to understand residents’ views before proceeding further.
Two pop-up events on Mampitts Green will be held by Mampitts Advisory Committee members on Mampitts Green in October. The Hub footprint will be pegged out on the green to give residents a real sense of the space. Residents, community groups, activity organisers and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend the pop-up events to learn more and share their thoughts.
October 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