New images of Broadmarsh public realm areas revealed

New public realm proposals for the Broadmarsh area have been released.

The proposals show Collin Street as a tree-lined space with views to the Castle preserved, places for people to sit and relax, space for art boxes and words in the paving – a nod to both the new Central Library and Nottingham’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature. A narrow channel of water would run along Collin Street.

The first stage of works on the new public area will create the Collin Street and north Carrington Street elements of the new public realm, and are expected to begin in early 2020.

The second phase of works will focus on the Middle Hill and Sussex Street area, joining the new public realm with the new Nottingham College City Hub site, as well as south Carrington Street and the remainder of Collin Street west of Melville Street, near the former Big City Tyres site.

Nottingham City Council says “substantial” funding is already available to deliver a “significant proportion” of these proposals, and the Council is confident that additional grant funding will be secured to deliver the remainder of the proposals.

These plans follow on from a series of major announcements for the Broadmarsh area in 2019. Work has begun on the £86m intu Broadmarsh redevelopment project, work on the new Broadmarsh Car Park building is due to begin shortly, Nottingham College’s City Hub is well on track and private sector projects to build office space near Nottingham Station at City Buildings on Carrington Street and at HMRC’s new offices at Unity Square due to start soon.

Councillor Jon Collins, leader of the City Council, said: “The start of this year is showing that the Broadmarsh area is finally becoming a fitting gateway to the City and these plans for the public realm are vital to that redevelopment. Alongside creating a new area for retail, leisure and culture, our public spaces should ensure that more people want to spend more time in the area.

“It’s important that we make the most of this once in a generation opportunity to completely transform the look and feel of the Broadmarsh area and we feel this is the right way to do it with green spaces in the area, places for families to relax near the new Central Library and dedicated children’s library, somewhere workers in a growing area can relax during their breaks and a warm welcome to visitors for the city.

“These are major changes the City Council and partners are investing in. During the development period there will inevitably be disruption, and there will be challenges in creating this new area, but we are working hard to manage this. We are confident this investment will make Nottingham a bigger and better city where people want to visit, stay, live and work.”