Nottingham city centre is getting set to bounce-back post-Covid thanks to a huge swathe of redevelopment.
The East Midlands city has seen construction continue on hundreds of millions of pounds of schemes in recent months, despite the setbacks posed by the pandemic.
City council leader Coun David Mellen said that the changes made and still being carried out will play a big part in bringing people back into the city and getting the economy back on level pegging.
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Coun Mellen said: “Lockdown has felt like our lives have been on pause somewhat, but that’s certainly not been the case when it comes to the changing face of our city.
“There’s a huge amount of exciting development going on which is going to have a transformative effect not only on how parts of the city feel, but also on jobs and opportunities that are available as we come out of the pandemic.
“I’m particularly excited by the different prospects offered by three key developments – the castle, the new library/car park/bus station complex and the college hub – and the vast improvements to the areas in between them.
“They all breathe new life into the area and will allow visitors, shoppers, students and residents to enjoy the city much more.
“There are also developments planned in some of our neighbourhoods, including a new library for Sherwood and lots of new family housing, including council homes in Clifton and Bestwood.”
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Big projects which are helping reshape the city skyline include the city council-backed new Broad Marsh car park and bus station – which should open this autumn – complete with 720 solar panels on the roof which will provide its power, and power to a new central library relocating from Angel Row.
The area around the new car park and bus station will also see pedestrian-friendly public spaces created using money from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund. That includes work outside the new Nottingham College City Hub, in Carrington Street, which is officially opening at the end of June.
Nottingham City Council has also secured £12.5 million of Government funding to create the Angel Row Creative Co-operative, which will go behind the retained historic frontage of the old central library. It will also fund public realm improvements on Angel Row and Maid Marian Way.
The council said the jewel in the crown of recent improvements is Nottingham Castle – reopening on June 21 after a £31 million, three-year development and conservation project overseen by council.
It has been jointly funded by the National Lottery through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, D2N2, Nottingham Castle Trust and Nottingham City Council, with contributions from Arts Council and fundraising efforts which have been undertaken.
The Broadmarsh shopping centre site itself is also undergoing radical changes, with contractors preparing the western section of the site for demolition later this year on behalf of the council, and funded by D2N2.
That will allow a new public space to be created to tie-in with the Collin Street/Carrington Street improvements and provide a new gateway to the city centre.
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The Broadmarsh Advisory Group is preparing a masterplan for the site on behalf of the council, using feedback from a recent consultation called the Broadmarsh Big Conversation.
Meanwhile, the developer of the Island Quarter Conygar announced details of its masterplan for the site last month, showing more green space, pedestrian and cycle links, to compliment hotels and hospitality, office space and community living.
The first phase of the development is due for completion in early 2022, and will be one of the biggest city centre development sites in the country, creating a new neighbourhood for Nottingham.
Construction of a new regional HMRC offices at Unity Square near Nottingham Station has also been completed by Sladen Estates, with-fit out underway.
The existing HMRC offices at Castle Meadow have planning consent to be converted to canalside residential properties.
Waterside development also continues at Trent Basin, with a pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Trent planned for completing by spring 2023 and a new school planned for the site, as well as other private riverside apartments also taking shape between Trent Bridge and Colwick.
Other developments across the city include private residential schemes, with apartments in London Road getting underway later this year, work currently progressing on apartments in Queens Road alongside Nottingham Station, and new homes in Traffic Street, in the Lace Market and in London Road near the BBC.
New homes in Arkwright Walk and Arkwright Street are also transforming part of The Meadows, while new offices in Station Street are underway near new student accommodation.
Heritage-led improvements are underway or have been completed in Station Street, Carrington Street and in and around the Old Market Square and Lace Market which it is hoped will give a new lease of life to existing buildings.