Some of the region’s biggest employers have teamed up with business groups and universities to support a £20 million bid to support the next stage of regenerating Nottingham city centre.
Experian and Boots have joined up with organisations such as Marketing Nottingham, the FSB, CBI and University of Nottingham to back Nottingham City Council’s bid for money from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to help bring the transformational Broad Marsh plans to life.
The 20-acre site is one of the most significant city centre development sites in the UK, and is being overseen by the independent Greater Broad Marsh Advisory Group, set up by the city council, with input by urban designer Thomas Heatherwick.
If successful, the £20 million Broad Marsh bid would prepare the centrepiece of the vision – the former Broadmarsh shopping centre – which is being retained and redeveloped. The scheme could support 6,000 jobs, 750 homes and over 400,000 sq ft of commercial and business space. It will have a ‘Green Heart’ providing a wildlife rich green space in the heart of the city centre.
The work will also include rejuvenating Nottingham’s cave network to boost tourism and World Heritage status, and has potential to include a cultural anchor tenant.
East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “The revitalisation of the Broad Marsh area, in conjunction with the nearby Island Quarter regeneration, represents a unique opportunity to reimagine a key part of the city centre and make it fit for 21st century use.
“These projects, if backed sufficiently by Government, have the potential to bring new jobs, homes and amenities that will benefit existing residents, while attracting visitors and indeed investors who will see something exciting is stirring in Nottingham.”
Sandeep Mahal, a director on the Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature group, said: “We are proud to back the city’s bid to the Levelling Up Fund and the enormous opportunity if offers to set a vision for the future prosperity of the city.
“The Levelling Up Fund offers huge potential for attracting investment and growth that will in turn transform the lives of people in Nottingham, create jobs in the area and showcase the talent and creativity that our UNESCO Creative City has to offer. Nottingham is an ambitious, young and diverse city with a culture of grassroots collaboration and a rich heritage of rebellious innovation.
“As a UNESCO Creative City of Literature, Nottingham is important, not just locally and regionally, but also on the global stage; working to harness the power of creativity to build a better, more sustainable, more equitable world.”
Key local businesses, educational institutions and third sector organisations which are part of Nottingham’s Growth Board have also all signed a letter to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities formally backing the bids and calling for the Government to invest in Nottingham.
The Growth Board is an economic advisory group which includes the Confederation of British Industry, Marketing Nottingham, Experian, Federation of Small Businesses, Nottingham BID, East Midlands Chamber, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and both Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham.
Coun David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It is great that so many local businesses and organisations in this city can see the potential for Broad Marsh and are backing our bid for funding.
“The new vision offers real social and economic opportunity for Nottingham, generating 3,000 jobs in the build and 3,000 new jobs once development is complete, creating more than 750 new homes and over 400,000 sq ft of high-end business and office space. The structural frame of the old shopping centre would be reimagined, a new ‘green heart’ for the city centre created, lost street connections reinstated and Nottingham’s cave network rejuvenated.”
As well as £20 million for Broad Marsh, the council is bidding for another £20 million to invest in Bulwell town centre, to boost pride in the area, improve key amenities and links to transport services.
