Update released on 'green heart' work at Nottingham's Broadmarsh site

Work on turning part of the Broadmarsh site into a green space has begun

Building work to turn part of a derelict Nottingham shopping centre into a green space is now well under way, the city council confirmed.

The Broadmarsh centre was handed to Nottingham City Council after previous owner intu collapsed into administration in 2020.

Some of the site is now being turned into a "green heart", which the authority said is "a key element" of plans for the area.

Work is set to be completed in summer.

The council said the plans to make a new green area for the city were developed after consulting residents

Nottingham City Council, which declared itself effectively bankrupt in November, has received funding from a ring-fenced government grant to go ahead with the work.

As part of the plans, 34 newly-planted trees and new footpaths will be added, as well as sandstone seating and "areas of colourful planting".

Further plans for the rest of Broadmarsh are yet to be finalised, with a multi-million pound bid for government cash rejected last year.

David Mellen, who is stepping down as city council leader on 20 May, pointed to the new car park, library and developments on Collin Street as signs of positive change.

"Some might see it as a headache, [but] I see it as an opportunity," he said.

"Did we want two shopping centres [in the city] with people's changing retail behaviour?

"I think we need something different, and that's what the people of Nottingham told us when we did the big Broadmarsh conversation, [they] wanted green space here."