Broadmarsh Shopping Centre

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The Broadmarsh Shopping Centre is the southern end shopping centre in Nottingham, England, owned by the Australian company The Westfield Group. The centre has 86 stores and a total retail floor space of 45,000m² (484,379ft²) ^[1]. The main retailers are Argos, Bhs, Boots, H&M, and TK Maxx with other stores such as KRCS Apple Computer Store, JD Sports, New Look, Wilkinson, and Ethel Austin. Stalls such as the Zumo fruit sellers are set up in the interior court.

1 History
2 Future
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

It was built on what was historically boggy ground on the outskirts of the mediaeval town, hence the name. By the time of construction, the area had badly degenerated. Despite its historic interest, all the buildings were demolished to accommodate the redevelopent. Broadmarsh is also the main bus disembarkation point for visitors to the city, as several bus routes terminate there.

During preparation of the site, many ancient and recent caves and cellars dug into the soft sandstone foundations of the city were rediscovered. Activism from residents and historians allowed the caves to be preserved instead of destroyed, and the City of Caves exhibit beneath the shopping center is now a major tourist attraction.

The Broadmarsh Shopping Centre, was opened to the public in 1972, was originally intended to be an Arndale Centre, and the associated parking structure–once voted the "ugliest building in Nottingham"–is still known as the Arndale Car Park. Furthermore, the main mall section of the development architecturally, lacks distinction. The centre improved with a major cosmetic refurbishment in 1988.

The Broadmarsh is a fantastic day out, pop into the card shop called Cardzone and ask for malcom and i will show you the best of what the centre has to give.

[edit] Future

In 2006, a three-year redevelopment plan was approved. The scheme involves the demolition of much of the centre, the car park, and the adjoining bus terminus. The plan will see the centre's retail floor area expanded to 120,000m² (1.292m ft²) with 300 shops across 3 floors^[1]. The plan includes two new department stores, 3,000 car parking spaces and a fresh food hall.

Plans for the new centre include arcade cafés and roof-top restaurants with views of the city, a food court with 1,200 seats, a major new public open space surrounded by bars and restaurants with views of Nottingham Castle, a new shopmobility service for the disabled, state-of-the-art transport interchange linking buses and trams with parking and passenger drop-off points. A tram stop integrated within the development for easy access to the shops, an 'airport style' bus station with additional stops and bus priority lanes, and cycle network with cycle storage facilities.

The new shopping centre will take approximately three years to complete and when completed, will be bigger than the Bullring in Birmingham.