Broadmarsh to be transformed by end of year
NEW BUS STATION, CAR PARK AND LIBRARY SET TO OPEN
NEW pictures show how the transformation of the Broadmarsh bus station, car park and library is progressing through the pandemic.
Although an exact completion date has not yet been revealed, it is hoped parts of the huge project will be finished by the end of this summer.
The redevelopment of the whole Broadmarsh area will drastically change the city centre once completed, with a new car park and bus station, Central Library and Nottingham Castle visitor area to add to the already opened Nottingham College City Hub.
Cladding work is well under way on the new car park and bus station. It is set to open this year along with the new library and retail outlets on Carrington Street.
More than 1,200 parking spaces, including charging points for electric cars and disabled parking will be provided at the city council car park.
Work has also been taking place to transform roads in the area.
The new green, pedestrian-friendly public space for the city centre involved the most significant changes to a city centre road layout for 15 years, and is being funded through the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
The scheme has attracted over £20m of Government funding and the traffic changes came into effect in August.
Once all complete, these major works will see:
A pedestrian-friendly, greener Collin Street will have places to linger and relax.
Canal Street, between Middle Hill and Greyfriar Gate, will become a twoway restricted area for buses and wheelchair accessible taxis, and an entrance to the new Broadmarsh Car Park.
Greyfriar Gate will act as a route to the Southern Relief Route, the new route for east and westbound traffic across the city centre, linking Maid Marian Way with Wilford Street, Canal Street and Castle Boulevard.
Middle Hill will be a two-way street from Canal Street to enable access into the Lace Market.
Drivers who previously used Collin Street or Canal Street to travel west to east and east to west will instead use the Southern Relief Route, which runs from London Road to Wilford Street past Nottingham Station.
A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: “These schemes will create an open, vibrant, welcoming space to the city for anyone arriving by bus, tram, train, car, bike or on foot.
“The new spaces and traffic reduction will deliver vastly improved pedestrian environments and will include dedicated cycle facilities on Canal Street.
“The work will also provide a great new public space between the new college, shopping centre, Nottingham Central Library and Nottingham Castle, with spaces for outdoor seating, food and drink in Carrington Street and areas for children to play, creating a better atmosphere to sit and dwell during the day.
“This will mean the areas connecting these major new developments can be turned into a bright, tree-lined space with high quality paving with landscaping, public art, and outdoor cafés, transforming them into safe and attractive spaces for people to enjoy.
“Views to the Castle will be preserved, with places for people to sit and relax, space for art boxes and words in the paving, celebrating both the new Central Library and Nottingham’s status as a Unesco City of Literature, included as part of the design.”
Meanwhile, Nottingham City Council held a ‘big conversation’ about what should happen to the partially-demolished Broadmarsh Shopping Centre and with the site and has said it was open to all ideas.