Clifton and Bulwell are to receive a £1m boost from Nottingham City Council to make them better places to shop, work and socialise.

A budget of £500,000 per area has been set aside for the improvements which include practical, local ideas for improving shopping facilities and enhancing the outdoor markets which are operated by the council.

Plans for Clifton will build on improvements undertaken as part of developing the extended tram network and include providing better pavements, street furniture, signage and shop fronts. They also include investigating options for developing the range of shopping and leisure facilities in the area. Clifton is the gateway to Nottingham from the south of the city and the plans take advantage of the great transport links Clifton has to offer, which includes the new tram network, good bus facilities and easy accesses from the motorway following the widening of the A453.

Clifton North Councillor and Area Committee Chair, Councillor Pat Ferguson, said: “Clifton has some wonderful facilities to offer both residents and visitors, from award winning parks to a popular outdoor market and shops. As a council we are committed to investing in our communities and the funding will help build on the improvements already made, making it a great place both for visitors and the local community.”

Like Clifton, Bulwell has a number of facilities at the heart of its community, including a variety of national and independent shops, a popular market and park, and established transport links which include a bus station, train and tram stops, plus free car parking.

As a market town, Bulwell has a distinctive identity with buildings full of character and architectural history. Working with local representatives and businesses, the council aims to make the most of this heritage and strengthen what Bulwell already has to offer. The funding will provide a boost to what is already a very popular market, helping to make Bulwell an even more attractive place for visitors. The funding will also help improve pavements, landscaping, street furniture and play equipment. In addition, the council will use the investment to regenerate Bulwell’s nearby industrial sites and outlying areas.

Councillor Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Business, Growth and Transport at Nottingham City Council, said: “This project is part of the Council’s plan to enhance the local neighbourhood centres around the city.  Bulwell already has many strengths such as its thriving market.  This investment will make it an even better place to shop, work, socialise and live.”

Work in both areas has already begun and the projects are expected to last until the summer of 2017.