Nottingham’s Urban Room was officially opened in Carrington Street last night (Thursday 27 September).
The special event included guests Mike Baulcombe, Regional Director for Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Cllr Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Regeneration at Nottingham City Council.
The Urban Room concept was first introduced in the 2014 Farrell review and many cities have them. They are described as a space “where the people can go to understand, debate and get involved in the past, present and future of where they live, work and play”.
From folklore to fashion, Nottingham has an exciting and diverse past and the city’s heritage is a major force for regeneration in city, helping to attract investment and tourism, which creates jobs.
However, Nottingham is also a city of change and it’s hoped that the new space will bring members of the public and partners together to help shape the city’s future through discussion and networking at exhibitions, fun activities, and training programmes. It will provide a space to engage the public with new developments, projects and schemes, while a virtual Urban Room will also be created. This will include information on the Heritage Lottery-funded Townscape Heritage Scheme for the Carrington Street area.
Situated close to the Broadmarsh regeneration area, the space at 38 Carrington Street has been an ambition for partners from across the city, including Nottingham City Council, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Society of Architects, and both universities in Nottingham
Mike Baulcombe, Regional Director of the RIBA, said: “The strength of the partnership involved in bringing Nottingham’s Urban Room to fruition has been crucial. That partnership will also provide the platform for the future development of 38 Carrington Street to be one of the foremost Urban Rooms in the UK. The RIBA, along with the Nottingham-based architects who we represent, is proud to have played its part in making the project such a success”
The Urban Room first opened to the public in March this year when the Nottingham’s Heritage Action Zone Scheme, supported by grant funding from Historic England, provided the opportunity to test the possibility of creating the space. With grant funding from the Townscape Heritage Scheme, the space and frontage have been restored to their former historic glory and already played host to exhibitions and events including the RIBA Preseident’s medal exhibition and Carrington Street Townscape Heritage exhibition.
Cllr Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage, said: “The Nottingham Urban Room will play an important part in engaging local people in discussions about the place where they live, in creative way.
“The room is also an impressive example and reminder of the importance our city’s heritage and past plays in shaping its future. Through partnership working and with the help of grant funding, a once unused space has now been sympathetically restored and given a new lease of life for the benefit of the community.”
The partnership responsible for the development of 38 Carrington Street, Nottingham’s Urban Room, comprises Nottingham City Council, the Royal Institute of British Architects, Nottingham & Derby Society of Architects, Historic England, University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and the Urban Design Group.
More information on the Heritage Action Zone can be found here: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-applications/heritage-conservation-area-listed-building-consent-grants/heritage-action-zone-and-conservation-area-grants/
More Information on Nottingham’s Carrington Street Area Townscape Heritage Scheme can be found here: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/carringtonstreetth