Unlock all the potential of the old Circus!
HOPES are high that a city area with a “potential” can be returned to its former glory.
Residents say they want Canning Circus in Nottingham city centre to find new life, amid worries the area has become run down.
Despite work continuing to turn the former Ben Bowers restaurant at the junction of Wollaton Street and Derby Road into student flats, large plots like the vacant Dancing Dragon restaurant and the Ropewalk pub are still unused.
There are also a number of smaller vacant shops and the Canning Circus conservation area is currently in very bad condition and is deteriorating, according to Historic England.
Locals feel the area has lost some of its appeal, but has a lot of potential due to its architecture and location.
Bev Jackson, who is semi-retired and lives in Wollaton, said: “There are some lovely buildings here but it’s a bit run down. It needs to be an architectural jewel in the city.
“I wasn’t living here at the time, but apparently it was the place to be in the 80s. It just needs some love as it is a nice area with a lot of potential. I mean it backs on to The Park Estate, for God’s sake.
“It can be more than this. You would think developers and businesses would be lining up for spots here, but I suppose the rent is higher.
“There are some good independent businesses here and you’ve got the pubs. The bigger closed buildings could be split up and used as community workshops or places where people can have interaction.”
Nicola Bender, 52, a caterer who frequently works in Canning Circus, said: “Once upon a time it was a thriving little road. It had a lot more about it than it has now. There used to be a good collection of bars, and you had pizzerias too. I think it is just about getting the right people running businesses and developing these buildings.
“With it being on the edge of The Park Estate, you’d think it would be done up a bit more. It is the opening to the city so we need something that makes a statement.”
Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: “This side of the town is a bit run down at the minute – like most of the sides of Nottingham actually.
“Places stay vacant in the city centre because of the rents. The one thing I would say is never knock down old buildings, like the school down on Lenton Boulevard.
“Why can’t we restore old buildings into something interesting? It depends on what people nowadays want, but all we really get now are coffee places.”
Hilary Silvester, executive chairwoman of Nottingham Civic Society, thought the area was slowly improving but had to be looked after. “Canning Circus is obviously very important to Nottingham and is one of the gateways if you like, if you’re coming in from the west off the M1. And it is obviously historic and has some very historic buildings in it.
“It has from time to time looked very good – in fact it doesn’t look too bad now,” Ms Silvester said. “When they repainted the almshouses, the nice row of cottages, they looked lovely, and there’s a very nice building on the opposite side where the Ropewalk joins Derby Road – and really the rest of the buildings are, too. It is an attractive area, and, yes, it needs looking after. One or two buildings need attention, but I think it’s gradually improving. “The John Borlase Warren pub looks good now – they’re looking after it. There are incremental improvements, but it is a shame that a car ran into the nice little wedding dress shop on the corner of Canning Circus, and we hope that they will restore the building the way it was before.
“As you go down Derby Road there is the terrace of nice early 19th-century houses on the left, then on the right you have the entrance to The Park Estate. The whole area is very attractive and well worth looking after, whether that is through redecorating or restoring buildings – we don’t want too many modern interventions or additions as the area is appealing and part of the character of Nottingham which is being eroded.”
It is an attractive area, it needs looking after. One or two buildings need attention
Hilary Silvester