World News – UK – An ambitious new plan could change the Broadmarsh Center forever

The most ambitious new plan yet for the half-ruined Broadmarsh Center in Nottingham has been unveiled – transforming it into 100 percent open green space.

Following the collapse of previous operators of the intu shopping center and the return of the lease to Nottingham City Council, the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has come up with a bold vision of redefining this key area of ​​the city center as a natural area.

Much has been said about its future and what should be done with such a key area since the website was returned to the Council in the summer.

A petition started by Cameron Ewan of West Bridgford calling for the area to be turned into public green space secured nearly 11. 000 signatures and other polls have also supported calls for it.

As Nottingham tries to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust believes that a Broadmarsh reinvented as a natural green space will improve the health of city dwellers, those without a garden provide vital access to nature and it would stimulate investment.

The impressions of new artists from the website, which today (4. December) were unveiled for the first time, showing the ambition of the potential project that would transform the city’s landscape.

Paul Wilkinson, General Manager of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, said of the vision: “By putting people and nature at the heart of the Broadmarsh site plans, Nottingham City Council can take this unique opportunity to create a green future for the downtown.

« This new vision not only signals the city’s commitment to preserving 30 percent of the land across the UK for nature by 2030, but also supports Nottingham’s drive to be the UK’s first carbon neutral city to boost tourism and ensure that that Nottingham stands out from the crowd as cities across the UK compete for investment to rebuild their economies after the effects of Covid-19. ”

The Trust says that despite its ambition to be the UK’s first carbon neutral city, the city was recently ranked 18th on a list of the UK’s green cities after taking measures such as emissions, transportation, waste and the environment into account.

It believes that a natural green space in the heart of the city would « increase resilience to climate change, improve connectivity for people, and provide an attractive backdrop for existing businesses » and attract new investors.

Paul added: “For more than a decade, Nottingham has shown ambition in its commitment to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city. By placing nature and accessible green spaces at the heart of urban planning, it can now show leadership by creating a vibrant city that supports the health and happiness of people and has a safer and greener economic future.

« While Nottingham has green spaces to be proud of, there are significant gaps in supply, especially in the heart of our city, which is unmistakably gray, not green. Now is the time to bring nature back. « 

The charity has worked with Influence Landscape Architects to redesign the space that turns into wildlife habitats that reflect the site’s history as a wetland along the old Leen River and long-lost gardens.

The vision for the location includes barrier-free sidewalks based on a centuries-old street map to reconnect important parts of the city.

Managing Director Sara Boland said on behalf of Influence Landscape Architects, “It has become critical for people, especially city center residents, to visit positive, well-designed and diverse, easily accessible public open spaces.

« The initial lockdown revealed that our role in providing such spaces and our understanding of the social and spatial implications of Covid-19 were only fair as more and more people began to enjoy outdoor spaces for regular exercise will be realized.

« Open spaces in cities are often formal, structured, and pocketed, and this has provided the opportunity for a completely unconstrained and wild approach to a sizable space. A chance to make a profound difference and impact the landscape of our next city, Nottingham.

« Combine this with the fact that urban rebuilding is now an identified and real opportunity in landscaping and that money is scarce for extensive aftercare strategies for heavily landscaped landscapes. A unique path with this partnership approach to Broadmarsh’s unique space. ”

The Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust believes the vision could improve the health of city residents, boost tourism and attract people to live, work and invest in Nottingham.

It is also said that there are « exciting opportunities » to explore the potential for sustainable urban agriculture in the remaining underground structures of the former shopping mall – mimicking the productive uses of the city’s famous cave system.

Paul added, “Transforming Broadmarsh into natural green space would bring people together and restore nature to the city at a time when natural green space has never been so appreciated or needed.

« It could also serve as a stepping stone to invest in green growth and infrastructure, fulfilling a long-term drive to reconnect our city to the old Sherwood Forest landscape, and we urge people to support our vision. ”

For more details on the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s vision of the Broadmarsh site as a natural green space, please click here.

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