Broadmarsh is an historic area of Nottingham, England. The area was subjected to large scale slum clearance, creating large spaces used for regeneration. A shopping centre, car park, bus station and road complex created in the early 1970s cut-through the traditional thoroughfares from the city centre to the rail and canalside area. A large courts building was opened in 1981.
 Entrance to the former Broadmarsh Centre from Low Pavement | |
 | |
| Location | Nottingham City Centre, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°57′0″N 1°08′55″W / 52.95000°N 1.14861°W |
| Address | Lister Gate |
| Opening date | 1972 |
| Closing date | July 2020 |
| Owner | Nottingham City Council |
| Public transit access | |
The former shopping precinct known as The Broadmarsh Centre (rebranded in 2013 as intu Broadmarsh) was located slightly south of the centre of Nottingham, on land owned by Nottingham City Council and formerly leased to Intu Properties. It was partly demolished during renovation work by the intu group.
Following Intu's financial collapse resulting in administration during 2020,[1] the council have undertaken public consultations to find an acceptable outcome for eventual redevelopment, including the former multi-storey car park and bus station.[2][3]
The intended demolition of the remaining precinct structure was delayed due to the City Council trying to obtain funding from central government under the Levelling up funding scheme announced in 2021.[4][5][6] The funding bid was rejected in October 2021, meaning demolition work on the eastern end was further delayed until a new bid for £20 million funding could be submitted after early 2022.[7] When the announcement of funding was made in January 2023, after postponement from October 2022, Nottingham's bid was unsuccessful.[8]
History
edit
The shopping centre was built in the early 1970s, in an area known as Broad Marsh, that was historically boggy ground, on the outskirts of the medieval town. It was once occupied by the Franciscan Friary known as Greyfriars, Nottingham, which was dissolved in 1539.[9] The area was cleared of all buildings to accommodate the new shopping centre.[10][11]
During preparation of the site, many caves and cellars dug into the soft sandstone foundations of the city were rediscovered (both ancient and more recent). The caves were to be destroyed as part of the construction, but activism by residents and historians allowed the caves to be preserved. The caves were excavated by staff from Nottingham City Council's museums service and local history enthusiasts. Some were opened to the public as part of the City of Caves museum beneath the shopping centre, and are protected as a Scheduled Monument.[12]
The shopping centre, designed by the architects Turner, Lansdown, Holt and Partners[13] was originally intended to be an Arndale Centre, and the associated parking structure – once voted the "ugliest building in Nottingham" – was known as the Arndale Car Park. Nottingham Corporation Estates Committee decided that the trade name Arndale should be removed from the title.[14] The centre, built at a cost of £7m was officially opened on 25 March 1975 by Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and the Duchess of Gloucester.[15]
The centre underwent a major cosmetic refurbishment in 1988[16] at a cost of £9m.[17]
Redevelopment
editShopping Centre
editNottingham City Council, owners of the land leasehold on the centre, had as of 2013 been attempting to encourage development at Broadmarsh for "almost two decades".[18] Their 2002 development brief called for a development that "respects the urban grain of the City Centre, with clear streets and urban blocks of buildings to provide for legibility, separate identity and future flexibility" with a clear north–south route linking Nottingham's Old Market Square and railway station, stating, "This route must take the form of a pedestrianised public street."[19]
In November 2002, plans to demolish the existing shopping centre, car park, and adjoining Broadmarsh bus station were approved.[20]
In April 2007, a plan nearly identical to that proposed in 2002 was approved. The three-year redevelopment plan would have involved the demolition of much of the centre, the car park, and the adjoining bus station.[21]
In November 2011, it was announced that Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), owners of the Victoria Shopping Centre, just north of the city centre, had bought Westfield's stake in Broadmarsh.[22][23] The purchase prompted an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission, which was concerned the company's monopoly over the city's shopping centres could negatively impact competition.[24]
In February 2013, CSC changed its name to Intu Properties plc.[25] The new owners wished to start an already planned development of the Victoria Centre, but Nottingham City Council insisted that Broadmarsh must be their "priority" and offered £50 million towards its redevelopment.[26]
A 2013 report mentioned that the centre was "half-empty".[27] The deputy leader of Nottingham City Council said the council would withhold planning permission for the development of the Victoria Centre until they "see bulldozers going into the Broadmarsh Centre".[18]
A new plan for a limited redevelopment of some of the centre received planning approval in June 2015.[28] The plans included the retention of most of the fabric of the 1970s' mall and existing tenants, including Boots, Wilko and BrightHouse, with some cosmetic updating. A nine-screen cinema was to be constructed at a remodelled south-eastern corner, along with new leisure and restaurant spaces. Drury Walk was planned as "Bridlesmith Square", providing a new area outside intu Broadmarsh, _targeted at upmarket brands. Counter to the 2002 Development Brief, the new walkway between the city centre and station was planned to be within the existing enclosed shopping mall, under a new glass roof.[29]
Construction company Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd were given the contract to start work on the long-awaited redevelopment of the centre with phased-demolition of the Broadmarsh starting in October 2019.[30][31] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, redevelopment work was halted in March 2020. Despite a relaxation of rules allowing construction projects to continue, contractors failed to return to the site in May 2020,[32] with equipment and scaffolding being removed in June 2020, and the public right of way though the centre being closed by Intu citing safety concerns.[33]
Work was halted in June 2020, owing to the owners Intu Properties entering administration.[34] By early July 2020, the part-demolished shopping centre had closed and the site was handed back to the freeholder, Nottingham City Council.[35]
On 6 August 2020, it was announced that the centre would be completely demolished at a cost of £8 million. A mixed-use future development is possible.[36]
As of October 2021, the site remained only partly demolished due to Nottingham City Council's bid to obtain extra government funding.[6][5] A new pedestrian covered walkway was created through the demolition site, linking the rail station area to the city centre, allowing for future clearance of the remaining 1970s structure.[37] In that month, the funding bid was rejected, meaning demolition work on the eastern end was further delayed until a new bid for extra funding can be submitted after spring 2022. Demolition of the western end of the former shopping area continued as some funding had been obtained from D2N2, the LEP for East Midlands.[7][39]
In December 2021, the scheme for redevelopment was reported.[40] The concept, headed by designer Thomas Heatherwick, allows for retention of some structural remains of the centre, as a framework and basis for extensive soft landscaping, provisionally entitled The Frame.[41]
When the announcement of funding was made in January 2023, Nottingham's bid to finish the Broadmarsh was unsuccessful, as was the bid for the nearby Island Quarter development. The city council vowed to continue pursuing outside funding to achieve The Frame concept.[8] 2024 saw the city council allocating "...up to £100,000..." to an outside consultancy to ascertain the commercial viability of creating a medical multi-scanning facility within the site.[42]
Car park
edit
The 1970s multi-storey car park with bus station underneath was demolished between 2017 and 2018.[43][44]
In October 2021, it was announced that the new multi-storey car park with 1,200 spaces, 90 motorcycle bays and 81 electric charge points was finished with anticipated opening on 1 November. Nottingham City Council were obligated to finish the car park project, although they had reservations about usage as the shopping centre rebuild was not undertaken, it was hoped the nearby College and Castle would offset the loss of shoppers. The design allowed for a high-level footbridge.[45][46][47][48]
Central Library
editThe central library originally located at Angel Row off the city centre was closed during the COVID-19 restrictions, with re-opening abandoned due to difficulties in making a COVID-safe environment. Provision was made during redevelopment for a new facility as part of the car park and bus station complex.[49][50][51][52] As of January 2022, no opening date was anticipated as contractors were being invited to submit new estimates for fitting-out of the new building, with the books still in storage.[53] The new library was opened on 28 November 2023 with a video-testimonial by Dolly Parton, whose own literary charity project, the Imagination Library, has donated books for the use of children since 1995.[54][55]
City Hub
editA 2017 plan to redevelop the adjacent land along Canal Street, for the benefit of Nottingham College, was approved.[56] Work started on the £58m City Hub in 2018. It is a six-storey building designed by Sheffield-based architecture firm Bond Bryan. Constructed by Wates it was intended to provide training and employment opportunities including 24 work placements, 16 new jobs, 13 apprentice placements and training for 11 NVQs.[57]
Skate Park
editA dedicated skating area using a special smooth treatment to the surfacing was created under the elevated section of the tram lines, as part of the street scene regeneration. Close to Nottingham College, it forms part of an intended eventual walk-through to the city centre.[58][59][60]
Bus lane
editThe traffic flow around the old Broadmarsh centre was altered in September 2020, as part of the overall scheme to create a "pedestrian-friendly" area stretching to the City Hub, with a bus-only lane being implemented. In March 2022, responding to a Freedom of Information request, it was confirmed that automatic cameras had instigated fines totalling over £965,000, allocated to Nottingham City Council. The Council commented that the money was used to pay for the camera system, with any surplus going towards "traffic initiatives".[61][62][63][64]
Responding to a Freedom of Information request in January 2022, the council confirmed that, for the period of 1 December 2021 to 12 December 2021, a total of 2,066 Penalty Charge Notices were issued for two camera locations on Canal Street.[65] The council confirmed in February 2022 that it had placed a maintenance contract with the supplier of the ANPR camera system covering the city, at a cost £187,000 for the period of October 2021 to the end of September 2022.[66]
References
edit- ^ The key reasons why intu collapsed into administration sending shockwaves around the retail world Nottinghamshire Live, 30 June 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2021
- ^ 'What happens next for Broadmarsh means so much to Nottingham' Nottinghamshire Live, 9 January 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021
- ^ Broadmarsh Car Park and Bus Station "Having demolished the previous Broadmarsh Car Park and Bus Station in 2018, the modern and new Broadmarsh Car Park building started in 2019." Nottingham City Council. Retrieved 15 October 2021
- ^ 'Broadmarsh just needs to come down now,' say shoppers hopeful for government cash Nottinghamshire Live, 16 August 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021
- ^ a b Broadmarsh centre demolition in limbo amid £20m grant wait BBC News, 11 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021
- ^ a b Levelling Up Fund Application Form Nottingham City Council, March 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021
- ^ a b Wider Broadmarsh Centre demolition delayed as new Levelling Up funding bid set to be made next year Nottinghamshire Live, 28 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021
- ^ a b Nottingham misses out on £57m of Government funding for huge city improvements Nottinghamshire Live, 18 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023
- ^ William Page, ed. (1910). 'Friaries: Franciscan friars of Nottingham', A History of the County of Nottingham: Volume 2. Victoria County History. pp. 144–145.
- ^ Weir, Christopher (2007). Turning Back the Pages in Old Broad Marsh and Narrow Marsh. Nottinghamshire County Council. ISBN 978-0902751590.
- ^ Broad Marsh and Narrow Marsh - The Story of a Nottingham Community Online Exhibition spread across 8 pages.
- ^ Scott C. Lomax (17 October 2013). Nottingham: The Buried Past of a Historic City Revealed. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-2999-2.
- ^ "Here you will find everything you need". Nottingham Evening Post. England. 13 March 1973. Retrieved 25 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "New centre sticks to old name". Nottingham Evening Post. England. 22 January 1971. Retrieved 25 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Couple take trip on free city bus". Nottingham Evening Post. England. 26 March 1975. Retrieved 25 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Broadmarsh". Shopping in Nottingham. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
- ^ "New-look Broad Marsh impresses retail bosses". Nottingham Evening Post. England. 21 November 1888. Retrieved 25 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Nottingham's Broadmarsh shopping centre 'risk'". BBC News. 3 March 2013.
- ^ "Broadmarsh Development Brief 2002". Nottingham Insight.
- ^ "City gets new centre". BBC News. 21 November 2002. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Redevelopment Plan". Nottingham City Council. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012.
- ^ "Westfield sells Nottingham's Broadmarsh shopping centre". BBC News. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ "Westfield to sell Broadmarsh Centre". this is Nottingham. 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
- ^ "Probe into Nottingham Broadmarsh shopping centre deal". BBC News. 10 January 2012.
- ^ Monaghan, Angela (15 January 2013). "Capital Shopping Centres rebrands as Intu and launches fashion website". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Nottingham's Broadmarsh Centre deal to transform city". BBC News. 11 November 2013.
- ^ Did the 1960s ruin the cities of the East Midlands? BBC News, 3 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2021
- ^ "Nottingham's Broadmarsh centre revamp plans approved". BBC News. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Caves and leisure for new-look Broadmarsh Centre". Nottingham Post. 7 April 2015. Archived from the original on 18 July 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ Morby, Aaron. "McAlpine signs-off £86m Nottingham Broadmarsh revamp". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Sam. "Broadmarsh redevelopment to take major step forward". The Business Desk. Regional Media Services Ltd. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Locker, Joseph (12 May 2020). "Uncertain future for Broadmarsh centre redevelopment as construction workers remain absent". Nottinghamshire Live. Local World. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ Topping, Andrew (13 June 2020). "Everything we know so far about intu Broadmarsh closing its doors". Nottinghamshire Live. Local World. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Should Nottingham's half-finished Broadmarsh Centre be knocked down?". BBC News. 27 June 2020.
- ^ "Broadmarsh liquidation hands control of site to council". BBC News. 4 July 2020.
- ^ Sandeman, Kit (6 August 2020). "£8million plan to demolish the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre". Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ a b New walkway opens at Nottingham's Broadmarsh as demolition to get underway Nottinghamshire Live, 16 September 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021
- ^ New Broad Marsh walkway a sign of 'overwhelming change' as it officially opens Nottinghamshire Live, 9 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2021
- ^ Nottingham City Council miss out on £20 million funding to demolish Broadmarsh Nottinghamshire Live, 28 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021
- ^ Nottingham Broad Marsh vision hailed as 'extraordinary' as new plans unveiled for the first time Nottinghamshire Live, 7 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021
- ^ Broad Marsh: Vision for shopping centre 'frame' creating truly unique space 'like nothing else in the world' Nottinghamshire Live, 7 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021
- ^ Consultants to be hired at cost of £100,000 to check plans for NHS centre near Broadmarsh Nottinghamshire Live, 12 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024
- ^ Demolition of Broadmarsh car park hails 'start of transformation' of the area Nottinghamshire Live, 19 September 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2021
- ^ Broadmarsh car park and bus station flattened - now bring on the £50m replacement Nottinghamshire Live, 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2021
- ^ Overnight Collin Street closures to remove Broadmarsh pedestrian bridges My Nottingham News, 28 December 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2021
- ^ Controversial Nottingham city centre scheme by Leonard Design set for approval Architects' Journal, 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2021
- ^ New Broadmarsh car park may need to be changed if not enough motorists use it Nottinghamshire Live, 10 August 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021
- ^ New Nottingham Broadmarsh car park opening date confirmed Nottinghamshire Live, 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021
- ^ Nottingham Central Library will not reopen following Covid shutdown Nottinghamshire Live, 17 August 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2021
- ^ Nottingham's new central library delayed until next year Nottinghamshire Live, 9 March 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021
- ^ Nottingham's Central Library moved to temporary location - at a cost of £200k Nottinghamshire Live, 19 April 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021
- ^ Nottingham Central Library closure Nottingham City Libraries 22 October 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021
- ^ 3 libraries proposed to close as wait continues for central library to open in Nottingham Nottinghamshire Live, 12 January 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022
- ^ Opening of Nottingham Central Library Marketing Nottingham, 27 November 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023
- ^ We Explore the New Central Library - Nottingham Culture Left Lion, 3 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023
- ^ Robinson, Dan (30 October 2017). "Here's what new £58m City Hub campus for Nottingham College could look like". nottinghampost. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ "New City Hub set to inspire students at Nottingham College - Scape Group". Scape Group. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ New skatepark to open this autumn as part of the Broadmarsh redevelopment Nottinghamshire Live 22 June 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2023
- ^ 'First of its kind' Nottingham skate park built under Broad Marsh Nottinghamshire Live 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2023
- ^ Free 'jam' as free skate spot under Nottingham's Broadmarsh opens Nottinghamshire Live 29 March 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023
- ^ More than 13,000 motorists fined for driving through Nottingham city centre bus lane Nottinghamshire Live, 3 April 2021. Retrieved March 2022
- ^ Man says trip to Nottingham was spoiled by Canal Street bus lane fine Nottinghamshire Live, 28 October 2021. Retrieved March 2022
- ^ Confusion over Nottingham city centre road as thousands received bus lane fines Nottinghamshire Live, 26 December 2021. Retrieved March 2022
- ^ Nottingham Canal Street bus lane fines totalled more than £950,000 BBC News Nottingham, 6 March 2022. Retrieved March 2022
- ^ Request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) Nottingham City Council via WhatDoTheyKnow, 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022
- ^ £187,000 contract agreed to stop motorists driving in bus lanes Notts TV, 2 February, 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022
External links
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