Broadmarsh revamp - two year delay
THE £700m redevelopment of the Broadmarsh shopping centre will not begin for at least two years, the Evening Post can reveal.
Westfield, the global property developer behind the scheme, says it will not begin construction this year, and the state of the retail market makes it unlikely the project will go ahead in 2010.
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Artist's impression of how the new centre could look
But Neil Huntingdon, development director at Westfield Shoppingtowns Limited, said: "We are fully committed to seeing this scheme through and building it out as quickly as is reasonably practical, taking on board the market conditions.
"We want to be involved in Nottingham. We like what we see. When the market does return we want to be ready quickly to start work so we get the upside."
The Broadmarsh scheme has been under discussion for almost ten years. Outline planning permission is due to expire in September, while the compulsory purchase orders that may be required expire in October.
However, Westfield says detailed designs will be submitted to the city council before the September deadline, and the company says it has secured the "vast majority" of the land it needs.
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by Adam, Nottingham
Thursday, April 09 2009, 11:23AM
“Surely spending the money now and giving Nottingham a top quality shopping centre would stimulate the local economy by drawing shoppers into the area?
The main problem with this us that Nottingham will have a problem of having one slum shopping centre as if the re-development goes ahead what will happen to Victoria Centre? People and retailers will be drawn to the new broadmarsh centre and VC will get more and more deserted, and Its not even like they can consolidate both of them together to give Nottingham one super shopping centre as 700 people live there. It will end up like broadmarsh is today.”
by alibobs17, long eaton
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 7:58PM
“" When the market does return we want to be ready quickly to start work so we get the upside"
So how long will it take to build?this comment makes it sound as if it will be built overnight! more excuses it will be talked about for years to come like it has for the past 20 years.
GG I agree maybe that would be a better opition something different to everyone else, but they want sunshine indoors everything under one roof!”
by GG, Nottingham
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 6:27PM
“Why do we need to follow every other city? One massive shopping centre could kill of the rest of the city.
Both of our centres need renovating. If we had two good centres either side of the market square, with numerous shops, pubs etc in between we could have a welcome alternative to the large centres that are everywhere else!
The foot traffic between the two will help businesses located in between.”
by Plonk, Heanor at work
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 6:03PM
“Its the correct financial decision in our current recession. Finance dictates all large projects so they wont spend money as it might be needed to prop up other shopping centres through the recession.”
by T Smith, Nottingham
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 6:02PM
“By allowing the Broadmarsh centre to run down for so many years Westfield have not only damaged Nottingham¿s retail offering but have damaged their own reputation as a shopping destination. If you were an upmarket retailer would you want to set up in a Westfield shopping centre when you can see how they allow their shopping centres to deteriorate? I think not. The excuse they give for delaying the project is just plain daft e.g. waiting to develop when there is a retail boom. Nobody wants to shop in a demolition site. Now would be very the very best time to develop the centre for the reasons others have given below. Is the real reason for delay with this project linked to the news about a further delay with the tram project?”
by Greg, Notts
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 5:30PM
“I think they are making the correct decision in delaying the new shopping centre. In the present climate retailers are struggling enough without trying to battle for customers whilst these works are ongoing. If Lister Gate became a no through route during this time im sure most of the shops down there would be forced to close due to the lack of passing trade.”
by Tailor, Nottm
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 5:07PM
“Hang on a sec l thought l read that Westfields were supposed to have started work on Broadmarsh September 2 years ago. Now planning permission is running out at it will take years to get to that stage again. Obviously they dont really want the property otherwise they would have started it already. They have been clearing out permanant tenants for years and taking in temporary tenants hence the tat and no doubt charging more rent too. Why dont they just sell it to some other company who can do something with it so they can create an inner city mall thats the envy of the country.”
by Dave, Nottingham
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 4:47PM
“They should pull it down and build something else. Nottingham is no longer a major thriving city and it would be better to redevelop the Victoria Centre with additional floors and have one big decent shopping centre than two crap ones with empty shops. I agree with what others say, major purchases are better made online these. It's only really clothes and boutique items which are better bought in shops.”
by Red Fred, Sneinton
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 3:59PM
“Yes Ray from Carlton. You go to the Westfield in that sheep-pen just up the A52, and leave us Nottm boys to go to either the run down Broad Marsh(They ought to pull it down and build a new ground for the mighty Garibaldi), or the Viccy Centre.”
by Lindsey, Nottingham
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 3:42PM
“It is about time something was done with this place, Less talk more action. It is the first thing alot of people see when they come into Notts (from Train Station) but I think a lot of them just use it walk through! Get rid of all the pound and cheap discount clothes shops and put something in there that is worth visiting.”