Broadmarsh

Broadmarsh

Entrance to the Broadmarsh Centre from Low Pavement
Location	Nottingham City Centre, England
Coordinates	52°57′0″N 1°08′55″W / 52.95000°N 1.14861°W / 52.95000; -1.14861Coordinates: 52°57′0″N 1°08′55″W / 52.95000°N 1.14861°W / 52.95000; -1.14861
Address	Lister Gate
Opening date	1972
Management	Leased to: Intu Properties Previously; Capital Shopping Centres & Westfield
Owner	Nottingham City Council
No. of stores and services	55 [1]
No. of anchor tenants	5
Total retail floor area	45,000 m² (484,000 ft²)
No. of floors	2
Website	www.intu.co.uk/broadmarsh

Broadmarsh (also known as The Broadmarsh Centre, and rebranded in 2013 as Intu Broadmarsh), is a shopping centre in Nottingham, England, owned by Nottingham City Council. Opening in 1975, the centre has 55 stores and a total retail floor space of 45,000 m² (484,000 ft²).^{[citation needed]} The shopping centre is attached to Broadmarsh bus station, one of Nottingham's two bus stations.

History

The shopping centre was built at the beginning of the 1970s, in an area that was historically boggy ground, on the outskirts of the medieval town (hence the name). It was once occupied by the Franciscan Friary known as "Greyfriars, Nottingham", which was dissolved in 1539.^[2] The area was heavily developed between the 16th and 20th centuries. Despite its historic interest and much local opposition, all the buildings were demolished to accommodate the new shopping centre.^{[citation needed]}

A former tannery within the caves under the shopping centre

During preparation of the site, many caves and cellars dug into the soft sandstone foundations of the city were rediscovered (both ancient and more recent). The caves were to be destroyed as part of the construction, however, activism from residents and historians allowed the caves to be preserved. Some are now open to the public as part of the City of Caves museum beneath the shopping centre.^{[citation needed]}

The Centre, which opened to the public in 1975,^[3] 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. The centre improved with a major cosmetic refurbishment in 1988.^[4]

Redevelopment

The former Broadmarsh logo

Nottingham City Council, owners of the centre, have been attempting to redevelop Broadmarsh for "almost two decades".^[5]

In November 2002, plans to demolish the existing shopping centre, car park and the adjoining Broadmarsh bus station were approved.^[6]

In April 2007, a near identical plan to that proposed in 2002 was approved. a three-year redevelopment plan was approved. The scheme would also involve the demolition of much of the centre, the car park, and the adjoining bus station.^[7] The redevelopment work, which had been planned to start in 2008, was estimated to cost £400 million and would have created 400 stores, 136,000 m² of shopping space. However it was not undertaken.^{[citation needed]}

In 2010, Westfield announced that the centre would be refurbished rather than redeveloped.^{[citation needed]} Months after this announcement, the Victoria Centre also announced plans for expansion, to compete with new centres in Derby and Leicester.^{[citation needed]} In light of the Victoria Centre's redevelopment plans, in 2011, Westfield announced that it was once again planning a £500 million development of Broadmarsh, which was planned to start in 2012. This, however, also did not take place.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2011, it was announced that Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), owners of the nearby Victoria Shopping Centre, had bought Westfield's stake in Broadmarsh.^[8][9] The purchase prompted an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission, who were concerned the company's monopoly over the city's shopping centres could negatively impact competition.^[10]

In February 2013 CSC changed its name to Intu Properties plc.^[11] The new owners wished to start an already planned development of the Victoria Centre, however, Nottingham City Council have insisted Broadmarsh must be their "priority"; the council offering £50 million towards its redevelopment.^[12] The deputy leader of Nottingham City Council said the council would withhold planning permission for the development of the Victoria Centre until they "see bulldozers going into the Broadmarsh Centre".^[5]

References

External links

• Official website

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