Broad Marsh: Shopping centre revamp misses out on government cash again

The council said it would look for other sources of cash to continue the Broad Marsh scheme

Plans to regenerate Nottingham's Broad Marsh shopping centre have missed out on levelling up cash again.

A £20m bid to clear the half-demolished site was not among 55 projects the government supported this week.

Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen said it was "a big disappointment" the project had failed to gain backing, having also missed out earlier this year and in 2021.

The government has been asked to comment.

Mr Mellen said: "This is exactly the kind of site that fits the definition of what levelling up is all about but the government has failed to give us the money for that area.

"It's one of the most significant city centre development sites anywhere in the UK which would bring major benefits to local people including up to 1,000 new homes and more than 6,000 jobs.

"It's a big disappointment."

The Broad Marsh Green Heart vision aims to reconnect Nottingham's ancient streets with a green space at its heart

Mr Mellen told the BBC the council did not have the resources to complete the Broad Marsh scheme on its own.

However he said it would look to see if funding could be found from other sources, including private investors and government housing agency Homes England.

He said: "Much progress has already been made on transforming the area with the new Central Library opening next week alongside the new car park and bus station, the Nottingham College city hub, improvements to the surrounding public spaces and work on the Green Heart city centre park due to start soon.

"Funding from Levelling Up Fund would have helped develop the wider master plan for the area."

A £17m plan to restore three warehouses at the centre of the city's Island Quarter site also failed to win funding this time round.

The council says it will review plans for Bulwell town centre

However £20m has been allocated to improving Bulwell town centre and work will start on that scheme.

Mr Mellen said he was pleased, but warned the money might not now cover the cost of the project.

He said: "Our original bid for Bulwell involved improvements to key amenities and links to transport services including enhancing green space and public realm alongside the River Leen, improvements to the market place and better connectivity between Bulwell Bogs, the tram stop, bus station, market place and high street.

"We need to review the detail of the government's announcement and re-test that the original plans are still deliverable against the new timeline and factor in the impact of inflation since the initial bid was submitted nearly a year and a half ago."