Princes Street

A project team was established for the 'Princes Street Enhancement Scheme' in 2006 with representation from District, Town and County Councils, Yeovil Vision and Yeovil Town Centre Partnership. Yeovil Hospital and Yeovil College.

The project partners acknowledge that Princes Street is an important shopping street situated within Yeovil town centre's historical core and sits within a conservation area. The street is a key pedestrian gateway into the town centre and is well used by many, including school and college students, hospital staff & local residents.

The key objectives of the enhancement scheme are

• Improve pedestrian links between the town centre, college & hospital
• Reduce vehicle speeds entering Princes Street from Park Road
• Enhance the character of Princes Street
• Shift the emphasis of the street from motorists to pedestrian
• Improve the subways
• Integrate public art

Phase 1 of the scheme, covering the southern part of the street between Connells and Bloors Pet Store was successfully completed in 2009.  It has delivered a street that is clean, bright and de-cluttered helping improve pedestrian flows.

Phase 2 seeks to enhance the Northern End of Princes Street towards the subway area including Park Road. The improvements will include widening of pavements, introduction of loading bays, repaving, designated pedestrian crossing points, lighting improvements and general de-clutter of the street. In addition, quality bespoke street furniture will be introduced along Park Road and Princes Street in a style consistent with the furniture installed in phase one. Further details on the design are available to view in our December 2011 newsletter.

The aspiration is to reconnect the subway end of Princes Street with the southern end of the street, to create attractive pedestrian access between the town centre, the college and the hospital and to enhance the character of the street. It is hoped that this will also enhance the profitability and appeal of the businesses in the area.

Construction is anticipated to commence in January and the aim is to complete the works by March 2012. Funding has been secured from South Somerset District Council, Yeovil Town Council, Somerset County Council and Yeovil Vision Board.

Extensive consultation has taken place over recent years regarding the street as a whole, and in May and June 2010 specifically regarding Phase Two, people were invited to consider and comment on design options being worked up. The culmination of months and years of consulting and developing designs saw a final design approved by Yeovil Vision in the summer of 2011.

Somerset County Highways will be carrying out the construction in partnership with South Somerset District Council. The works will be undertaken in phases with work being undertaken on one section of footway at a time, ensuring that access is maintained to premises during the construction as well as maintaining pedestrian facilities on the opposite footway. In order to allow the build of a pedestrian crossing at the bottom of Park Road, and to enable a new carriageway surface to be laid it will be necessary to introduce a short-term road closure. Further information on construction timetables, road closure dates and arrangements will be communicated once the final detail is known. Throughout the work efforts will be taken to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.

To see the latest news on Princes Street, please click on our newsletters below:-

If you would like further information please visit the Yeovil Vision webiste or contact Chereen Smith, Regeneration & Renewal Officer on 01935 462730 or via email.