Nottinghamshire town centre redevelopment given go-ahead

Plans for a 223,427 sq ft redevelopment scheme in the centre of former Nottinghamshire mining town are set to be given the go-ahead.

Cotgrave town centre improvements, which have been seven years in the planning, include the refurbishment of ten existing retail units, the redevelopment of existing residential buildings to office space and a medical centre, library and police station.

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s planning committee recommended that the Cotgrave scheme be granted planning permission at a meeting last week.

Barratt Developments has been appointed contractor on the scheme, the origins of which stretch back to 2009.

The project is a partnership between Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, HCA, Metropolitan, Police, Belvoir Health Group and Cotgrave Town Council.

The redevelopment will open up the shopping area and will create a new public open space in front of the parade of shops. The existing health centre, library and police station will be demolished to make space for this and a brand new multi-service centre will be built on the site of Scotland Bank housing these services. This new building will act as a focal point for community activities and will also contain offices for the town council.

A statement from Allan Joyce Architects of Nottingham, which is designing the public realm and retail space, said: “The long run of retail units will have a comprehensive external refurbishment, with new shopfronts, signage and landscaped area to the front. At first floor the vacant flats will be converted into new business space accessed from a central entrance to be formed in one of the currently vacant retail units.

“The overall effect of these measures will be of a complete remodelling of the town centre making it a vibrant and attractive place for all.”