Work starts next year on the creation of a new ‘Green Heart’ in Nottingham city centre as part of the ongoing regeneration of the Broad Marsh area, which has seen a huge transformation in 2022.
The Green Heart is the centrepiece of Nottingham City Council’s vision for Broad Marsh, created with the Greater Broad Marsh Advisory Group and world renowned designer Thomas Heatherwick, which was unveiled a year ago.
The first phase of the Green Heart will see an area the size of the pitch at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground located between Collin Street and Lister Gate – previously part of the old Broad Marsh shopping centre – covered in trees and planting, creating a natural, tranquil green space with pathways between Nottingham Station and Old Market Square.
One of the features of the Green Heart is what is believed to be the longest bench in the UK stretching across the space allowing people to linger and enjoy the environment.
Major progress has been made in the ongoing transformation of Broad Marsh over the last 12 months.
The demolition of the west side of the shopping centre building with funding secured from D2N2, the Local Enterprise Partnership, via the Government’s Getting Building Fund, has made space for the new Green Heart and enabled a new pedestrian Right of Way to be created across the site. This has provided uninterrupted open air access between the Southside of the city into the city centre for the first time since the Broadmarsh centre was built nearly half a century ago.
Other key developments in 2022 include:
- Work starting on the fit-out of a state-of-the-art new Central Library
- The opening of the new Bus Station
- The creation of new public space and public art around Sussex Street and Carrington Street
- Progress on a detailed business case for the wider redevelopment of Broad Marsh
- Submission of a bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund for developing the Frame as a key element of the Broad Marsh vision
- Submission of an Investment Zone ‘expression of interest’ application.
In addition to work starting on the new Green Heart, 2023 will be another year of significant progress for Broad Marsh.
- The new Central Library is expected to be completed and ready to open later in 2023.
- A unique new Skateable Space is being created as part of the public realm works on Sussex Street, underlining Nottingham’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading cities for skateboarding.
- A major new study into rejuvenating the unique cave network underneath Broad Marsh is to be published by the University of Nottingham.
- Further work on the wider Master Plan and detailed business case for the Broad Marsh redevelopment.
- ‘Meanwhile use’ opportunities will be progressed while the long term development plans are being finalised.
Cllr David Mellen, the leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “The ongoing transformation of Broad Marsh and the wider south side of the city over the last year has been a real positive for the city. The new green public spaces around the new Nottingham College building, along with recently opened bus station and new car park, which is proving so popular, have made a huge difference to the area.
“The opening of the new Central Library next year and the first phase of work to create the Green Heart will be further major milestones in the regeneration of what is such an important gateway to the city centre.
“The Green Heart is one of the key elements of the long term vision we unveiled last year and something there was huge support for among the thousands of responses we received as part of the council’s Big Conversation about Broad Marsh.
“There is more work to be done to move forward with the wider vision but it’s great to see major progress being made on the ground.”
Thomas Heatherwick, founder and design director of Heatherwick Studio, said: “The world has fundamentally changed and city centres can’t just be about retail and shopping any more. They have to become amazing social spaces and bring nature back into, onto and around the buildings. Nottingham is at the forefront of this movement and doing it with a whole lot of bravery and creativity. We are proud to be on the journey with you.”
