By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
A multi-million pound investment in Arnold town centre will see new start-up businesses and a Post Office opening within weeks.
The development is called the AMP, meaning ‘Arnold Market Place’, and was completed and handed over to Gedling Borough Council today (October 11).
The £4m business project will be home to a wine tasting experience outlet, a cat and dog accessory and treats store, a cake shop and a delicatessen open alongside the Post Office, which has relocated from Worrall Avenue.
There is also a top floor which has the potential to be a restaurant or office space.
Gedling Borough Council Leader John Clarke said it would be the “jewel in the crown for Arnold”.
The Post Office will open later this week and the other businesses will follow later in October and the beginning of November.
It is the most significant single investment Arnold Town Centre has ever seen, which Councillor Michael Payne (Lab), Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, said is huge for the area’s economy.
The site was initially planned for a spring opening before Covid-related delays. It was then planned to open in April or May 2022.
Yaz Nuqul, the founder of Cat Dog Limited, said his business will feature accessories from British-made brands and locally sourced products. He hopes to be open by the end of October.
He said: “I left the corporate world after 11 years with a strong career to come and start this business.
“I was looking to start my own business and I had a new puppy and when we were shopping for products we found we had to go to lots of different places to get stylish and unique products.
“The idea was a one-stop shop for cats and dogs with products you cant typically get on the high street.
“A lot of businesses have gone through a tough time in the past few years with the pandemic so this is a great opportunity to get some new start-ups in that can bring something different to the area.”
Gedling Borough Council bought the land in 2018 and began work on the
building in 2020.
The site was the home of Arnold Market for over 50 years and the stallholders moved to nearby Eagle Square while the works were carried out.
Plans are in place for the traders to stay at the location, subject to consultation.
Cllr Payne admitted it had been a “long, drawn out and at times frustrating process” following delays to the opening.
He said: “We had to get hold of the private market as the council did not own it, then we had to get the site built and there have been trials and tests along the way.
“What I’m really pleased about is this is money being invested in Arnold.
“For too long we have seen central government ignore Arnold and pump money into places like Mansfield and Newark.
“I used to work on this market as a teenager and this was the beating heart of the town centre. What I want to see is some energy and some buzz being brought back into the town centre.
“Arnold has gone through all sorts of challenges and it always bounces back because of its people. Its strong sense of community will make this place thrive.”
James Carson, owner of Taste First – a tasting room and wine shop which also sells home tasting vouchers and plans to run private events for small businesses.
Mr Carson, who has worked in the wine business for the last five years, said: “We set the business up in February 2020 and then had the lockdown in March.
“It was really good because it gave us the time to do everything.
“I think this is a really nice thing the council has done, they are supporting local people.”
Funding for the project came from Gedling Borough Council’s capital programme budget, boosted by a successful bid for £1.25 million from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund.
The project created around 40 new jobs through business
employment and through the construction of the new building, which has a number of energy efficient designs including 51 solar panels and rainwater retention tanks.
