Nottingham City Council’s leader has welcomed the good news, in these difficult times, that Nottingham has been declared Britain’s buzziest and most improved small city by the Sunday Times.

In a ‘best places to live’ guide, the national newspaper pointed to Nottingham’s cultural scene, including the Nottingham  Contemporary, theatres, cinemas and live music venues as feathers in the city’s cap.

It also said the City Council deserved credit for overseeing an improvement programme which aims to make the city carbon neutral by 2028, including tram lines and cycle paths, as well as developments like the Old Market Square redesign.

Calling Nottingham ‘fun, funky and affordable,’ the Sunday Times declares it ‘one of our favourite cities,’ going on to outline lively independent shops, restaurants, bars and cafes among its attributes.

City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen, said: “At times like this, it’s great to hear something positive, and I couldn’t agree more with the Sunday Times’ assessment that Nottingham is Britain’s buzziest city. It’s a city with so much going for it, from its great cultural scene, its affordability and wonderful visitor destinations in the city and nearby, to many good schools, world-class universities and a public transport network the envy of many cities. It’s a city whose time has come, with a wealth of new developments bringing growth and prosperity for the future.

“It’s pleasing that the article acknowledges that the council deserves credit for the leading part it plays in shaping Nottingham as a carbon neutral city by 2028 and undertaking key developments like the redesign of the Old Market Square – all of which helps to create a place where people want to be.”