Way forward for city – on the High Line
BY way of contributing to recent debates about the future of Broadmarsh, I would argue that there is a growing realisation in contemporary urban-planning thinking that there will be a permanent change in employment patterns in the future (towards hybrid working) alongside changes in the nature of retail shopping – i.e. the demise of such stores as Debenhams and an increase in online consumption – impacting in turn on city-centre footfall, with implications for the hospitality sector (cafes, bars and restaurants).
This makes the need for a radical rethink in urban regeneration policy increasingly paramount.
One option already suggested for Nottingham is the High Line, a 1.45-mile-long elevated urban park created on a disused rail track in Manhattan, New York. The abandoned track was reimagined as a “living system” based on ecological principles of urban design. It has become a major tourist attraction and has impacted positively on neighbouring property values.
In addition to its economic benefit, its appeal includes plantations and cultural activities (art installations, sculptures, performances, exhibitions, events, festivals, etc). This offers a proven imaginative paradigm for Nottingham, not only linking the city’s railway station to the city centre and other cultural attractions such as the Contemporary and the Castle, but also for adding to Nottingham’s tourist and leisure attractions. It could certainly be considered for part of the Broadmarsh redevelopment.
Alongside the High Line option, closer to home is the Stockton vision for its Castlegate shopping centre. Considered a monstrous, modernist monument to the 1970s, it is to be demolished to make way for a park three times the size of Trafalgar Square that takes in a library and leisure centre.
Adding the High Line principles to this would generate a strong attraction around cultural activities. Added to this vision, Stockton is offering spaces in abandoned retail outlets (such as Debenhams) under their Enterprise Arcade scheme, where independent
enterprises are charged a peppercorn rent for the first year whilst they develop their clientele and build up their business.
Both these examples of urban regeneration offer imaginative possibilities for revisioning Nottingham as a vibrant, flourishing city, attractive to both local communities and tourists.
Admittedly, achieving this vision is clearly impeded by four decades of central government cuts to local authorities’ finances. However, there is some potential support through the business rates holiday, the £5bn restart grant scheme, the levelling-up fund and the £830m Future High Streets Fund.
In the case of Stockton, they have also financed the building of a town centre hotel which they expect to deliver an annual profit of £250,000 to help fund services. Dr Charlie Cooper
Sneinton