Little sign of progress on Broadmarsh
THE latest pictures show just how little has changed at the Broadmarsh centre site in the space of a year.
On March 13 last year, scaffolding had been up in the former Middle Pavement entrance to the shopping centre as the planned multi-million pound regeneration work took place.
However, after a tumultuous year for high street retail and the administration of shopping centre giant intu, the scenes from within the half-demolished building remain almost exactly the same.
The picture here were captured on March 13, 2020, and March 15, 2021, to show what the site looks like today in comparison.
What was once a bustling construction site, featuring an excavator and scaffolding, is now an empty wasteland.
The building itself remains very much the same, minus the construction and demolition equipment, after contractor Sir Robert Mcalpine left the scene.
Work was halted towards the end of March last year due to the worsening coronavirus pandemic, but it never resumed as intu’s soaring debts led to its eventual administration later in the year.
The Broadmarsh site is now completely owned by Nottingham City Council, which has since been awarded just under £8 million to help demolish the remaining buildings completely.
Demolition work will continue until April 2022.
The city council has said, however, that it is “unlikely” it will get back all of the £17 million it invested in the project.
Numerous plans have been lodged for the future redevelopment of the site, including a green space, sky gardens and sustainable housing.
Residents of the city described the current scenes as “war-torn”, with fears raised for the future of the city as more retail units are left empty around the former shopping centre.
Earlier this month it was confirmed the rest of the centre will now be demolished. An application, submitted by Nottingham City Council last month, confirms demolition work will continue until April 2022.