While the news of the upcoming Broadmarsh redevelopment has captured the city’s imagination, demolition has begun just up the road at Unity Square.
The site, opposite Nottingham Train Station and next door to Castle Rock Brewery, was previously a car park with shops and will offer a ‘mixed use’ redevelopment of the site.
Sladen Estates and Peveril Securities Ltd own the site, having bought it in 2015. The scheme currently has outline planning consent for up to 450,000 sq. ft. of Grade A office accommodation, a new hotel alongside other retail and leisure uses surrounding a brand new public realm. The site is large enough for extensive redevelopment in a key city location, with plans to be confirmed as demolition progresses.
The upcoming demolition at Unity Square follows a gradual but sustained regeneration in the area, with the redevelopment of Nottingham Station, Station Street and Heritage Lottery Funding to support the restoration of historic frontages along Carrington Street and a grant to create a worldclass visitor attraction at Nottingham Castle.
Looking forward, the Broadmarsh area will begin its revamp, with a new Car Park and Bus Station, renovation of intu Broadmarsh, a new public realm in the area and the creation of a new city hub for the newly merged Nottingham College.
These efforts to transform the surrounding area by Nottingham City Council has made Unity Square more appealing to Sladen Estates & Peveril Securities, who having seen the work to change the area feel an investment in the area will create interest and appeal across the market.
Nick Sladen, Chief Executive of Sladen Estates, said: “One of the biggest challenges facing the Nottingham market is a lack of new development, particularly within the office sector, and Unity Square will play an important part in boosting the city’s offering and will put occupiers in the heart of this regenerated area of Nottingham enabling them to take advantage of these important investments. Demolition is due to complete at the end of October this year with a start on site for the new buildings anticipated in January 2018.
Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of the City Council, said: “Unity Square is an area with great potential, being so close to the main local and national transport links and in an area the City Council has driven regeneration in.
“Attracting investors and developers like Sladen Estates & Peveril Securities who share our ambitions and aspirations for the city show that our work to regenerate the gateway into the city for thousands of visitors a year has been worthwhile, and is beginning to attract the kind of outside investment needed to boost Nottingham’s offer and profile.”