By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter
A new design vision to transform Nottingham’s Broadmarsh shopping centre into a world-renowned city centre site has sparked a wide range of reactions – with some welcoming it as a game changing modern vision to others describing it as a disappointment.
Others called the plans “hugely exciting” and “a bold idea”, while some said they were concerned about where the money will come from to ensure the scheme happens.
It could be a decade before the crumbling Broadmarsh shopping centre site is fully transformed into ‘a mixed use’ development.
The long-awaited plans were unveiled on Tuesday, December 7, and Nottingham City Council will now take the concept to public and private investors.
A landslide of social media comments and public statements followed – ranging from the upbeat and complimentary to the downbeat and disappointed.
The plans follow months of public consultation and brainstorming by an advisory board set up by the council after former Broadmarsh operators Intu went into administration in 2020.
The site was then handed back to the city council in a part-demolished state.
Led by Nottingham Project’s Greg Nugent and acclaimed designer Thomas Heatherwick, the new vision has been hailed by those involved in its creation as “magical”.
Announcing the plans, David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council said: “Now we will begin the important work necessary to test the new Vision and our ability to realise it. We have said all along that this isn’t something the Council can or would want to do on its own.
“We will continue to work with colleagues on the Advisory Group to develop a Masterplan for the space and secure the investment needed from public and private sector partners.
“This will take time to get right but people will see major changes soon with the opening up of the area between Collin Street through to Lister Gate as part of the creation of the ‘Green Heart’.”
The plan is to divide the site into zones with the potential to create 750 homes with views of Nottingham Castle, an art hotel next to Nottingham Contemporary and 400,000 sq ft of business space to create up to 6,000 jobs.
Nottingham Caves would have a completely new entrance to raise its profile as a key tourist destination, and there would be a green space at the heart of the development for people to enjoy.
The former frame of the derelict shopping centre would be kept and could become a place that could house recording studios, a music venue, food outlets, gyms, a skate park, and community garden projects.
Project leaders said there is also the potential for a ‘cultural anchor tenant’ such as a Tate Nottingham gallery.
The design also aims to counter the effect the former Broadmarsh had in blocking some of the key routes around the city and the open space would allow Nottingham Railway Station to be linked to Old Market Square.
It remains unclear how long it will take for parts of the project to get off the ground.
In October, the Labour authority, which has almost £1bn of debt, failed with a bid for £20m in Government Levelling Up funding to demolish parts of the old shopping centre to clear a path for the design.
It plans to submit a fresh bid in the spring. The council will also have to find up to £6m for master planning, legal work and preparation to take the vision to the private and public sector markets.
It is not yet known where this money will come from but an announcement is set for the spring.
However, many city business leaders have given the designs a warm reception.
Scott Knowles, East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive, which represents businesses in the city, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “This is a hugely exciting moment for people who work, live and study in Nottingham to see a real vision for the future of the Broadmarsh area.
“The plans to bring high-quality offices, new homes and a unique space for recreational activities to this hugely symbolic area of Nottingham is in tune with the profile we expect to see for our future city centres – where a combination of living, working and leisure will be key to attracting people back after the pandemic and beyond.
“Yesterday’s thinking won’t shape tomorrow’s cities and this is just the type of bold ambition businesses will welcome as they begin to make plans on the places where they want to invest during the economic recovery.
“While this is an exciting first step in a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a new-look Nottingham, it’s crucial we get this right by now working with businesses to start bringing these plans to fruition – because, ultimately, it will be a public-private partnership that will achieve this.”
Glenn Crocker, executive director for city centre business, BioCity, added: “This is an ingenious, radical and game-changing proposal for the Broadmarsh site. Completely appropriate for an ingenious, radical and game-changing city.”
Paul Wilkinson, chief executive of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, was also pleased about the amount of green space adopted into the scheme.
He said: “As we face up to the ecological and climate crises the prospect of wildlife habitat and greenspaces being woven across a much wider footprint than the former shopping centre itself is particularly exciting and we would welcome the opportunity to work with Nottingham City Council on the next phase to ensure the green vision is delivered.”
But political opponents of the Labour-led authority were not entirely happy with the proposals on the table.
Daniel Atherton, deputy chair of the Nottingham Conservatives Federation, said: “What the people of Nottingham deserve is a world-class city centre that we can be proud of.
“A large number of people called for greater green space, the business community desire high-quality space and opportunities to develop.
“What the council has now endorsed, though, is the worst of both worlds. It presents neither optimum green space nor the groundbreaking retail and business infrastructure that is crucially needed in the south of the city.
“There are elements that we can welcome: greater attention and access to the city’s famous network of caves, the inclusion of much needed city-centre long-term accommodation and the reinstatement of the time-tested street plan.
“People must not forget that, at the end of the day, the reason we are left with this concrete wasteland dividing the south of the city and station from the rest of the centre, is down to the countless blunders and mistakes from the Nottingham Labour council.
“The ruins of the old ‘Broadmarsh Centre’ will, under this plan, remain as a reminder of Nottingham Labour’s mismanagement of the city’s resources.”
Lloydie James Lloyd, campaigns co-ordinator for Nottingham Lib Dems, added: “This is a complete slap in the face for residents. Over 11,000 residents said they wanted significant green space.
“We asked for a large green area and this proposal is barely a small recreation ground. It’s less than a fifth of the size of Nottingham Arboretum.
“That is heartbreaking given how invested people in this city are in the idea of green space.
“This proposal isn’t big, isn’t bold and lacks the ambition we need for our city. ”
Speaking on behalf of Nottingham Green Party, Cath Sutherland was also unhappy about the green space for the site.
“This is a ‘business as usual’ proposal, with offices, flats and a small green space. This design does not transform the Broadmarsh into a huge park in which nature can thrive, for the public to enjoy.”
But leader of Nottingham Independents Cllr Kevin Clarke, welcomed the proposal.
He said: “I think it looks rather good. It is a mix of old and new and there is greenery and housing, Anything is an improvement than what we have had for the last 30 years. I was never a big lover of the Broadmarsh.
“It is brave and ambitious. I think where the problem lies is finding the capital to fund it. The city council has wasted so much money on the Broadmarsh over the years.”
