In the UK, plans to replace Nottingham ‘eyesore’ with ‘Green Quarter’

The plans include a public square and the integration of nature with affordable eco-housing, green office and retail space

Spotted: There have been plans afoot to redevelop the Broadmarsh shopping centre, in Nottingham, England, for almost two decades. However, the owner of the site went into administration in June of 2020, halting work and leaving the site half-demolished. Now, a coalition of Nottingham community organisations, residents and businesses have proposed a new concept for the space that would see the eyesore replaced by a “green quarter”.

The new plans have been designed by local architectural designer Steven Lane and architect Caterina Chiofalo. They include a public square and plans to integrate nature with affordable eco-housing, green office and retail space, a City of Caves visitor attraction, urban agriculture and healthy places to both eat and buy fresh food.

The proposal includes the use of restored historic thoroughfares to connect the city through the Broadmarsh site, and the development of an urban forest and connected green spaces. It would also include rooftop gardens and farms, and take into account the need to create new jobs and inward investment.

Environmentalist and Nottingham resident Penney Poyzer, who is supporting the plan, has emphasised the development’s ability to create new, green jobs, saying, “Nottingham needs green jobs, so it’s vital that we provide young people in particular with the training and skills to fill those future vacancies. For example, sustainable construction is the way forward but in Nottingham, we lack the skills and facilities to create a workforce able to meet new techniques and standards.” The new plan is launching on January 14th and is supported by Nottingham Cohousing and Nottingham Good Food Partnership.

Green cities are taking off in a big way. At Springwise, we have seen this in numerous ambitious plans for recreating cities to emphasise environment and sustainability. These have included a unique vision for the entire planet and a concept city designed to withstand future pandemics.