Developer and designer appointed to revamp Nottingham’s Broadmarsh Centre

Nottingham City Council and the Greater Broadmarsh Advisory Group have appointed social value-focused developer Stories and urban designer Heatherwick Studio to create a “new vision” for the former Broadmarsh shopping centre site and surrounding areas in Nottingham city centre. Both Stories and Heatherwick Studio will work with the advisory group to develop a masterplan for the site and advise on how the project can be delivered over the next 10 years. Stories will advise on the site’s commercial and delivery model. Proposals for the scheme are expected to be published later this year. The lease for the derelict shopping centre site was handed back to the council 10 months ago, after previous owner intu collapsed into administration last year. The advisory group was set up in March this year to help Nottingham City Council redesign the 20-acre area and build on a wide-ranging consultation held late last year called the “Big Conversation”. The plans, along with the demolition of the western part of the shopping centre, are being funded through local enterprise partnership D2N2 via the government’s Getting Building fund. Elizabeth Fagan, chair of D2N2, said: “The first phase of the redevelopment of the Broadmarsh Centre will capitalise on the LEP’s previous investments – including the castle, the new library and Nottingham College’s City Hub – to enable Nottingham to attract major new investment and support its future recovery and long-term sustainable growth.” David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “We want to deliver a vision that is ambitious and imaginative but achievable, which first and foremost enhances the quality of life for local people but which captures the imagination of people further afield and partners who want to invest in our city.” Thomas Heatherwick, who leads Heatherwick Studio, said: “Urban centres in this country have been failing fast through a combination of conventional high street shopping that has been swallowed up by the online world and bland gentrification, which has eliminated local character. Added to this, the pandemic has made many people feel lonely and isolated. “We need to regenerate the hearts of our cities and towns as places for us all to come together. Urban green public spaces can also play an important part, not only socially and experientially, but also by contributing something towards solving the climate crisis. “Nottingham has the chance to lead the way, like it has done many times in its rich creative history.” Greg Nugent, former London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics director and independent chair of the advisory group, said: “This is an incredibly ambitious move by Nottingham City Council and a serious statement of intent.” He added: “Cities the world over are going to have to change and adapt in the coming years – not just because of Covid-19 and its devastating effects, but also as a response to the impact of online shopping and to rise to the sustainability challenges we all face.” To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@eg.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @EGPropertyNews See also: Broadmarsh gets £200m office makeover Photo © High Vision/Nottingham City Council