Broadmarsh, Nottingham - the big conversation

Setting the scene for a new vision

Thank you

The big conversation ran from 20th October - 31st December 2020, and is now closed.

The original website will remain for reference purposes.

Press release - 7th December 2021

Heatherwick vision to reimagine City Centre and old shopping centre backed by Nottingham City Council

Press release - 13th July 2021

Nottingham City Council and the Greater Broad Marsh Advisory Group have today announced that Heatherwick Studio, led by the renowned and highly acclaimed British designer Thomas Heatherwick, and Stories, a leading socially responsible development company, have been commissioned to create a new vision for Nottingham City Centre site.

Summary Report - 6th April 2021

We have produced a summary report to bring together the results from the consultation. You can download the Summary Report from the link below.

Press release - 31st December 2020

More than 3,000 responses have been put forward ahead of a New Year’s Day deadline for how Nottingham’s Broadmarsh Centre site might be re-imagined.

2021 will see the ideas shaped into a masterplan for one of the most significant city-centre development sites in the country.

At the start of 2020, good progress was being made on the redevelopment of the centre, but the pandemic pushed former owners intu to administration and the site was handed back to Nottingham City Council in its present state.

Having reopened the walkway as a priority, talk was understandably rife about the future of the centre, and the council took the decision to open this up to the public for their input and ideas. The Big Conversation was launched over autumn, with more than 3,000 responses received ahead of the extended January 1st deadline, and a range of ideas presented by local people.

The council also reached out to young people, through engagement exercises with schools and Nottingham College, and with local businesses through dedicated round-table events to hear the views, aspirations and ideas of established and emerging Nottingham enterprises.

A wide range of ideas have been submitted so far that the Council will consider in the New Year, including green space, leisure opportunities, smaller shops, space for markets, tourist attractions and food outlets. The City Council has not, and will not, make any decisions until the feedback from the Big Conversation is assessed, when work will begin on a masterplan for the site and demolition of part of the centre thanks to funding from D2N2, the Local Enterprise Partnership.

Nottingham City Council Leader, Councillor David Mellen, said: “The Big Conversation we have undertaken about the Broadmarsh site has really captured people’s imagination. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine a significant space right in the heart of one of the country’s Core Cities and build a new post-Covid vision for urban areas that is people-centred and green but also leads to jobs and housing, improving quality of life.   

“What has been interesting to see among the understandable desire for green space is the number of respondents who have called for this and something else – small shops, markets, offices, restaurants, entertainment – to complement the new space.

“We know that people really value open, green spaces in Nottingham, with more than 31 per cent of the city made up of green space, despite our tight urban boundary. We’ve also got 73 Green Flag parks – more than any other council area. Nottingham aims to be the first carbon-neutral city in the UK. We’d want to see this ambition reflected in the future for Broadmarsh in some way.

“We will need to work in partnership with private and public-sector partners to develop any future plans, not least due to the financial pressures we and many other councils are facing at the moment. There are practical challenges with the site too, due to different height levels and the current structure being partly demolished. But a lot of important preparation work has already taken place as part of the previous development and we have funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership to carry out further demolition work.

“2020 didn’t work out as anyone planned and that was certainly the case for the Broadmarsh Centre. But it’s presented us with an unexpected opportunity which in 2021 we hope to shape together into something wonderful for our city.” 

What follows is the original website as presented on 20th October 2020.

We have provided some historical information, and some of the challenges and opportunities with the site, so please have a look over this when you have the time as this presents some of the factors we will have to take into account in determining what to do with the site.

This page is also available as an  accessible PDF .

1. Introduction

Nottingham’s economy is vibrant and globally significant. With world famous brands such as Boots and Experian, and a dynamic entrepreneurial small and medium business sector, Nottingham is the centre of the East Midlands Economy. A core city large enough to have global impact, but small enough to be a liveable, friendly city. Nottingham boasts two gold rated Universities leading in life sciences and technology, the best public transport system in the UK outside London, and a diverse creative and cultural history.

Nottingham has waited for a long time to see the Broadmarsh centre redeveloped.

After previous plans by Westfield fell through in 2011, Intu took over and had its own vision for a major leisure and retail development. Good progress was being made until the coronavirus pandemic, leading to the company going into administration and the site being passed over to the city council.

It’s a big disappointment for the city, but it’s also a great opportunity to look again at an important site. The area is at the heart of the city centre, and there is an opportunity to better integrate this into the wider regeneration taking place on the south side of the city, bringing investment, creating jobs and improving the quality of life for local people.

The current financial pressures the council is facing mean any future plans will require innovative solutions; partnerships, new investment, private sector development expertise and finance in addition to external grant funding. 

There are practical challenges with this site. It is partially demolished, and occupies a large space with significant changes in elevation. A lot of vital preparation and clearance work has already taken place as part of the previous development.

There is fantastic potential to restore historic street patterns, and provide residential accommodation, leisure and green space, building on the heritage opportunities in the surrounding area.

Significant related developments are in progress, or nearing completion at Nottingham Castle, Broadmarsh Car Park, Bus Station and Central Library, Nottingham College, Unity Square, the Island Quarter and residences around Nottingham Station.

What is this?

This web page is a story map: an interactive, immersive story which guides you through various concepts and media as you scroll.

Maps are all fully interactive, so if you see something of interest you can tap, drag, zoom and navigate. Keep scrolling to move to the next item.

If you want to take a shortcut to a section, use the section heading links. They will be at the top of your screen now.

More about planning in Nottingham

Planning resources, and guidance for developers wishing to build in Nottingham are available at our  Design Quality Framework  website.

Nottingham's  Urban Room  is a space where citizens can engage directly with Nottingham City Council on the future of our great city.

Find out about place-making and engagement strategies in Nottingham at  Co-PLACE .

2. The Past

Broadmarsh has a diverse history, initially as the grounds of the Greyfriars Friary, then as back-to-back courtyard slums, characterising Nottingham's constrained development during the industrial revolution.

Postwar housing and regeneration efforts made their mark in the 1940s and 1950s. More recently the development of the Broadmarsh centre in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The following map series give a overview of the area through these periods.

Broadmarsh Centre

The Broadmarsh Centre was opened in March 1975 by the Duke of Gloucester, and remained open for 45 years.

Foundations were laid in the late 1960s; streets such as Drury Hill, whose timber framed buildings were demolished, and the caves which ran underneath were obscured.

Instead, a brand new shopping experience for the people of Nottingham was created.

How did Broadmarsh look then?

The Nottingham Post hosts an  image gallery  showing Broadmarsh through the years.

Image gallery: Broadmarsh in the 1960s and 1970s

3. The Present

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Nottingham was in the middle of a construction boom as part of its £2bn Southside redevelopment plan; bringing jobs, homes, offices, tourism and leisure opportunities and opportunities to local people.

The Broadmarsh Car Park, Bus Station and Central Library and Nottingham College City Hub projects are still progressing well. Nottingham Castle is on course to become a world class tourist destination, Unity Square will soon open as new offices for HMRC, and work will soon begin on the Island Quarter on London Road.

Image gallery: Related construction projects in the city

Improvements to the Collin Street public space

Collin Street closed in August 2020 so work could begin on a new public realm for Nottingham, creating new spaces for people to relax, dwell and play. Creating more green space in the area is a key component of these plans, with designs to transform the area from a traffic heavy barrier to the city into a more welcoming, greener entrance to Nottingham. 

Gallery: Artist's impressions of the improved public space around Collin Street

Heritage-led regeneration

Nottingham's heritage is strong and diverse, with a history of growth, adaptation and innovative development. We believe Nottingham's history provides a foundation for future growth, helps to foster local identity, promotes social cohesion and well-being.

Investment in heritage has been shown to have a highly positive effect on economic growth; for the high street this is called heritage-led regeneration. For every £1 spent on heritage-led regeneration, an additional £1.60 is generated in growth - as well as supporting local independent businesses, making a safer environment and giving us all pride in where we live ( Historic England, 2013 ). To the north and south of the Broadmarsh centre there are heritage-led regeneration schemes supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England. These are reinstating historic details and addressing poor condition in historic buildings around Carrington Street, and in the Old Market Square conservation area as part of the Nottingham  Heritage Action Zone .

Nottingham City has a strong  Heritage Strategy  that constantly evolves through continuous engagement, and working in collaboration with local agencies and organisations.

Carrington Street Area Townscape Heritage Scheme

National Lottery funding has supported the regeneration of this key thoroughfare.

The scheme has revitalised a number of buildings which had suffered from long term vacancy and neglect, including the imposing City Buildings, Gordon House and a number of other small businesses in the area.

Planning for change in Broadmarsh

The Broadmarsh area is already undergoing much needed change – but the Broadmarsh Centre remains the biggest challenge and opportunity for the city.

This will not be an easy development – the site covers a large area in many senses. The site extends over an area the equivalent of a football pitch at 7,182 square metres, and the level changes in this area are dramatic; 8.7 vertical metres between the library and Bridlesmith Gate. That's the equivalent of a two storey building, or two Nottingham City Transport double-deckers! Cast your mind back to leaving the Bus Station to reach Bridlesmith Gate and the two escalators needed to reach it.

Photograph of the escalators inside Broadmarsh centre leading to Drury Walk

Drury Walk entrance escalators in the former Broadmarsh Centre. Photo credit: unknown

The City of Caves remains a major tourist attraction and access to these must be protected. Some businesses on Low Pavement still require access to the loading bay on the Broadmarsh Centre roof, and the centre exits onto Collin Street, which is itself a bridge over some of the lower level shops.

All building sites have challenges, but some associated with Broadmarsh are unusual and can be addressed depending on what is built there.

The following map series aim to demonstrate some of the present-day constraints and factors the planning team need to take into account when working with a site of this kind.

Reminder...

You can scroll through this to read like a storyboard - but if you want to interact with any of the maps shown, you can still do so by clicking or tapping.

4. The Future

Preparing the site

It was announced in August 2020 that the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership had awarded the Broadmarsh £7.99m funding from the Government’s 'Getting Building' Fund. 

A final business case has to be prepared to enable access to that funding, which is the subject of an Executive Board report being considered on  20th October  – to access this report, please visit the council's  committee pages .

The funding will enable site master planning to commence, and for an early first phase of demolition of part of the site as set out in the plan. 

Both of these key activities are considered to be of significant benefit to bringing the site forward for development. Indeed, establishing a clear and compelling vision, place-making strategy and associated masterplan will strengthen development values and deliverability, and translate the ambitions of the council, citizens and partners.

All comments and ideas received so far will inform the master planning report, as will the results of this Big Conversation when it ends in late 2020.

Working together to reimagine Broadmarsh

A city that works for everyone can only be achieved if it is imagined, created, built and cared for by us all.

The Broadmarsh Centre is one of the biggest developments in the city. Since Intu fell into administration and the Broadmarsh Centre closed, the city council has consistently said that it will work together with the general public to decide the future of the site.

But we need your ideas. The questions as part of The Big Conversation will inform the council of the type of redevelopment people would like to see. You will also be able to submit your own plans or images alongside any answers.

The content above was designed to give you a clear idea of the site and transparently explain the considerations and constraints the council has to take into account when developing a site of this sort. We would encourage you to read through this before making any suggestions.

Below are some examples to give you an idea of what has been suggested by others over the last couple of months. The City Council will collate all the information and ideas sent to us, and a collaborative process will be developed to co-create the best possible framework to redevelop the Broadmarsh Area.

Inspiration

The council has already received many suggestions - including an online petition with over 10,000 signatures - showing the energy and enthusiasm people feel about a variety of ideas for the future of the site. Themes which emerge range from requests for new green space to potential for improved transport links, incorporation of new tourist attractions, and mixed housing and retail.

The following examples show a section of what could be considered inspirational designs for one reason or another. This may be because there is an innovative re-use of existing features, forward-thinking green credentials, or sensitivity to an area's heritage.

Photograph of the Supertree Grove in Singapore

Supertree Grove, Singapore. Image credit:  Shiny Things , via Wikimedia Commons

Photograph of the Bosco Verticale in Milan

Bosco Verticale, Milan. Image credit:  Marco Sala 

Photograph of Sneinton Market

Sneinton Market. Image credit:  CBP Architects 

Photograph of the Winter Gardens in Sheffield

Winter Gardens, Sheffield. Image credit: Shane Rounce via  Wikimedia Commons 

Photograph of the High Line linear park in New York

High Line park, New York. Image credit:  Dansnguyen  via Wikimedia commons

5. The Big Conversation

The Big Conversation ran from 20th October - 31st December 2020, and the survey has now closed.

To see ongoing engagement activities in relation to the Broadmarsh and other sites across Nottingham City, please visit Co-PLACE at  https://www.co-place.org/ .

Credits

Archive material

Picture Nottingham https://picturenottingham.co.uk/

Photos

Nottingham City Council

Narrative

Nottingham City Council, supported by Nottingham Local Studies Library

Map data

© Crown Copyright and database right 2020. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100019317.

Aerial photography

© Bluesky International Ltd and Getmapping Plc 2019

Drury Walk entrance escalators in the former Broadmarsh Centre. Photo credit: unknown

Supertree Grove, Singapore. Image credit:  Shiny Things , via Wikimedia Commons

Bosco Verticale, Milan. Image credit:  Marco Sala 

Sneinton Market. Image credit:  CBP Architects 

Winter Gardens, Sheffield. Image credit: Shane Rounce via  Wikimedia Commons 

High Line park, New York. Image credit:  Dansnguyen  via Wikimedia commons