Nottinghamshire will continue to undergo a period of massive change next year as a series of significant construction projects move forward across the county. These range from schemes looking to regenerate derelict city areas to large residential projects in Broxtowe and Rushcliffe that will create whole new neighbourhoods.
The fringes of the city centre, going into Sneinton and St Ann’s, are being reshaped by student developers responding to massive demand for bed spaces. However, some of the large housebuilding and infrastructure projects which are likely to get underway or continue in 2025 will make a real difference to people of all ages around the county.
Nottingham’s most important regeneration at Broad Marsh will continue to move forward, but other huge developments in Nottinghamshire are progressing quickly away from the eyes of the city centre. We’ve listed a few of the eye-catching projects that could be coming to an area near you.
Broad Marsh continues after huge announcement
The 20-acre former Broadmarsh shopping centre site is one of the most significant city centre development sites in the UK, and undoubtedly one of the most important development projects Nottingham has ever embarked on. The area, between the train station and the city centre, has been the subject of speculation for years after operator Intu’s collapse in 2020 and subsequent partial demolition of the structure.
While Nottingham City Council had planned to build around the skeleton of the structure as it could not fund its full demolition, East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward’s East Midlands Combined County Authority recently handed the authority more than £3 million so it could demolish and develop more of the empty structure. The skeleton of the Broadmarsh centre, which the city council had planned to build around as it could not afford to dismantle it, had been a barrier to outside investment as developers were worried about the risks posed by the hulking frame.
The vision is for a mixed-use site to be created, comprising of 1,600 new homes and 20,000 square metres of office, commercial and leisure space. The development is expected to create around 2,000 jobs.
The city’s ‘Green Heart’, a new park that connects Lister Gate and Collin Street, opened on September 4. Other approved plans will see part of the derelict Broadmarsh centre transformed into a medical hub, which will be run by the Nottingham University Hospitals Trust.
The Green Heart public space at the site of the former Broadmarsh shopping centre
(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
Island Quarter
The Island Quarter, formerly Boots Island, is the city’s largest regeneration site and is currently in its second phase. The construction of a 693-bed student accommodation complex was completed recently, but further plans are in place for a 18-storey hotel complex with 223 rooms, 247 residential apartments, a huge scientific laboratory, and 30,000 square feet of offices.
The Island Quarter was recently allocated £4.16 million by Claire Ward, East Midlands Mayor, as part of a scheme to boost housebuilding across 12 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire brownfield sites. Developer Conygar Investment Company, which bought the 36-acre site in 2016, applied to build another student complex with 383 bedspaces in February, which was approved in December.
The Island Quarter site in Nottingham
(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
River Trent bridge
The construction of the first new bridge over the River Trent in 60 years is expected to begin in early 2025, instead of the initially planned summer 2024 date. The pedestrian and cycle bridge will link Trent Basin, off Daleside Road in the city, to the south bank of the river close to the Hook nature reserve in Lady Bay, in Rushcliffe borough.
A full planning application was submitted by the city council in February following lengthy delays, and city councillors unanimously supported the proposals at a meeting earlier this year in April. Rushcliffe Borough Council then approved the proposals for its side of the river in July.
The 87-metre bridge, which was increased in width to four metres following a public consultation, is expected to open at the end of 2025. Alongside the new bridge, which is expected to cost around £12 million, the pedestrian and cycle pathways are expected to be improved on the north side of the river.
(Image: Copyright Unknown)
Fairham
Work is continuing to progress at the Fairham site between Gotham and Clifton, which will eventually include 3,000 new houses. As well as thousands of new-build homes, there will be vast swathes of employment space at its business park, a primary school, community and sports facilities, and a neighbourhood centre.
There is also a safeguarded route to allow for the possible future extension of the tram through the site, and gypsy and traveller pitches. Clowes Developments, which is behind the huge project, recently withdrew its plans for a sporting pavilion on the site – so it can resubmit a reorganised plan that takes into account the new school that is planned nearby. A representative said this meant the changing rooms, which will help new residents take advantage of the neighbourhood’s playing fields, would be built in a way that makes more sense with the rest of the large and complex site.
Elsewhere at Fairham, housebuilders are ramping up construction of the first homes off Remembrance Way and Nottingham Road. In September Redrow East Midlands, which is one of the many housebuilders signed up to the scheme, started work on 93 new homes at its Dovecote Grange development.
Strata Homes formally submitted plans for 271 new homes to be built at the site in June. These proposals are currently pending approval by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
Ongoing work at the Fairham development near Clifton in Nottingham
(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)
Chetwynd Barracks and Toton
Thousands of houses would be built on Chetwynd Barracks and a neighbouring Toton site as part of a masterplan that leading figures hope will be an example for large-scale developments across the country. The colossal project has previously been delayed by the scrapping of HS2’s eastern leg in 2021 and by the Ministry of Defence pushing back the barracks’ closing date to 2026 amid rising global tensions.
The most recent hurdle for the redevelopment, however, is the struggle to finance the link road that would serve the hulking housing development and alleviate local traffic. Ever since a bid for ‘Levelling Up’ funding was refused by the last Government, discussions have been ongoing on how to bridge the gap and open up the vast area to builders, according to Broxtowe Borough Council leader Milan Radulovic.
In September, housebuilder Bloor Homes took the first step towards building 700 homes off the A52 in Toton, as well as a link road, forest school and new park. The new sprawling estate would be accessed from the A52 Brian Clough Way, with the applicants stating the housing development would help bring forward the link road that would eventually serve the thousands of homes planned in the area.
Chetwynd Barracks in Swiney Way, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire
(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)