UKREiiF: Broad Marsh and The Island Quarter

Nottingham’s Broad Marsh and The Island Quarter have been showcased at a national forum this week [16th - 18th May] as two of the most significant city centre development sites in the UK.

UKREiiF, the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum in Leeds, brings together thousands of investors, funders and developers looking for new opportunities across the UK.

Nottingham City Council’s Chief Executive Mel Barrett and Corporate Director for Growth and City Development Sajeeda Rose were both speaking at the event with the latter joining an Invest in Nottingham discussion panel.

Broad Marsh has been described as “a once in many generations opportunity” for Nottingham to lead the way in city centre regeneration following the impacts of Covid-19 and online retailing.

Heatherwick Studios - led by the world renowned and highly acclaimed British designer Thomas Heatherwick - and Stories, a leading socially responsible development company, were commissioned last year by Nottingham City Council and the Greater Broad Marsh Advisory Group to create a new vision for the 20-acre site.

The new vision was launched in December and offers social and economic opportunity to Nottingham on an unprecedented and historic scale, generating 3,000 jobs in the build and 3,000 new jobs once development is complete, creating more than 750 new homes and over 400,000 sq ft of high-end business and office space.

Significant development has already taken place around Broad Marsh over the last two years including the new Nottingham College City Hub and a state-of-the-art car park, bus station and central library building. Work is also well underway on major improvements to the public space around Broad Marsh through the Transforming Cities Fund, including new pedestrianised streets and planting to create a more pleasant, people-friendly and greener environment.

Demolition of the west side of the shopping centre site is well underway.

Sajeeda Rose said: “Broadmarsh plus The Island Quarter combined are potentially the largest live regeneration and development sites in the country right at this moment. It’s an opportunity to re-think and re-design cities for the future.

“Public sector and City Council led investment has kick started circa £3 billion development opportunities which is transforming Nottingham south of the city centre. 

“We’re progressing the next stage of the vision for Broad Marsh and are keen to work with partners and investors to deliver new homes, jobs and green spaces as part of creating a vibrant city with opportunities for everyone living here.

Lorraine Baggs, Head of Investment at Invest in Nottingham said: “UKREiiF is a fantastic chance for Nottingham to speak directly to investors about the unique opportunity we have to offer. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reimagine how city centres will look in the future.

“The combination of the key sites in the city centre, Broad Marsh and The Island Quarter, and the pivotal sites in the county like the East Midlands Freeport and HS2, mean Nottingham’s transformation into a city of the future is underway, and we want to give investors the opportunity to be part of that.”