Nottingham City Council’s Leader has welcomed the Government’s announcement that the authority’s bid to the Levelling Up Fund for a £20m project to improve Bulwell town centre has been given the green light but has expressed his disappointment that Broad Marsh has missed out yet again.
Cllr David Mellen said: “Nottingham had bid for a total of £57 million for Bulwell, Broad Marsh and the Island Quarter from round two of the Levelling Fund last year but didn’t receive a penny so we’re pleased that it’s finally been announced today that Bulwell will receive funding. Bulwell town centre is an important part of the city which serves several communities, and we welcome this much needed investment.
“However, it’s a big disappointment that the site of the former Broad Marsh shopping centre has once again been left out. It’s one of the most significant city centre development sites anywhere in the UK which would bring major benefits to local people including up to 1,000 new homes and more than 6,000 jobs. Much progress has already been on made on transforming the area with the new Central Library opening next week alongside the new car park and bus station, the Nottingham College city hub, improvements to the surrounding public spaces and work on the Green Heart city centre park due to start soon.
“Funding from Levelling Up Fund would have helped develop the wider Master Plan for the area. This work will continue including how best to secure support from the public and private sector.
“Our original bid for Bulwell involved improvements to key amenities and links to transport services including enhancing green space and public realm alongside the River Leen; improvements to the market place and better connectivity between Bulwell Bogs, the tram stop, bus station, market place and high streets.
“We need to review the detail of the Government’s announcement and re-test that the original plans are still deliverable against the new timeline and factor in the impact of inflation since the initial bid was submitted nearly a year and a half ago.”