Doncaster Council's 2016 city masterplan: What has been delivered 10 years later?

The City of Doncaster Council unveiled a brand new vision for the future of the city centre this week, which it says will build on the ‘Urban Centre Masterplan’ approved 10 years ago.

But what was in the 2016 vision, and did it ever materialise?

Internet archive tools provide the useful ability to go back and see some of the webpages containing some of the details. This is exactly how Doncaster Council performed on its big, headline visions.

Doncaster Railway Station

In 2017, Doncaster Council released artist impressions of a new look public space outside the railway station in the city centre.

The vision included a large, pedestrianised area with benches and fountains, built over where the station car park used to be. There was also mention of a ‘contemporary’ glass cover to protect visitors from ‘all weather’.

The car park was moved to West Street, next to the Railway Pub.

It is an almost exact description of what rail travellers step out on to when exiting the front of Doncaster Station.

Doncaster Council’s new masterplan wants to build on this further. Images released in the vision show the pedestrianised area expanded up to Gateway One, the new building currently under construction.

Another new building, Gateway Two, was shown on the site of the current Station Car Park, suggesting it will once again be relocated.

Doncaster Cultural and Learning Centre

Another success story from the 2016 plan. Artist impressions, again released in 2017, show a building that looks exactly like the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum (DGLAM).

The building, at the corner of Waterdale and Chequer Road, incorporated the old Doncaster Girls School building inside the modern glass exterior.

It contains a well-used cafe, library resources, railway exhibits on the ground floor, and further museum and gallery facilities on the top floor.

Hall Gate and Silver Street

At the time, Doncaster Council said it would invest £2million into Hall Gate and Silver Street as part of the ‘Quality Streets Scheme’.

Old press releases from the local authority said Hall Gate would be ‘transformed into a pedestrian friendly area’.

“The road will be narrowed to make it one-way to all traffic and the pavements will be upgraded and made wider. This will create more outside space for businesses to have alfresco areas. Bus stops will be improved, dedicated cycle lanes installed and existing parking bays removed,” the council has said.

Similarly, Silver Street would also be made one-way ‘with daytime access and pedestrianised at night time’.

The council said it would ‘have great benefits for businesses’ allowing them to ‘create alfresco areas and visitors and residents will be able to enjoy the space and new attractions free from traffic’.

Visitors to the city centre will know that the physical changes were made, but given the well-documented struggles for high streets across the country, some residents and business owners may disagree over whether the ‘great benefits’ came with them.

New cinema complex

The Savoy cinema complex, and the restaurant units next door on Sir Nigel Gresley Square, were also part of the 2016 Urban Centre masterplan.

As well as the six-screen cinema, food and drinks venues like Mother Hubbard’s Fish and Chips and the Mayfair Pub and Restaurant sit on the south side of the square.

Doncaster Council’s new plan sets out a vision to expand the regeneration of the ‘Cultural and Civic Quarter’ into the Waterdale Shopping Precinct.

Corn Exchange

The refurbishment of the Corn Exchange at Doncaster Market is the most recent of these projects.

It officially reopened in 2025 after a two year restoration.

The site features space for a number of businesses, all of which are local independents.

Visitors to the reopened Corn Exchange shared positive reviews at the time, though the evidence that it has boosted footfall in the area has been limited.