Nottingham City Council has received initial support for a Townscape Heritage (TH) bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Carrington Street project.

The redevelopment of Carrington Street forms part of wider regeneration in the area to build a better Nottingham – including the creation of a modern transport interchange at the revamped Nottingham Station, the redevelopment of the Broadmarsh shopping centre and the current bid to HLF for funding to develop Nottingham Castle into a world-class visitor attraction.

Carrington Street, situated between Nottingham Station and the Broadmarsh shopping centre, was originally part of the main north-south route into and out of the city. Nottingham City Council has been successful in securing Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) to repair and refurbish historic buildings, helping to reinstate the original character of this important street.

Nottingham City Council and intu recently signed a conditional development agreement which will see £150 million invested in intu Broadmarsh, the Broadmarsh car park, bus station and associated public realm improvements to help transform the shopping experience in Nottingham. The proposed public realm improvements around the Broadmarsh development include the pedestrianisation of the northern section of Carrington Street, to create a more welcoming entrance to the Broadmarsh. Work on the development is due to start in 2015.

The redeveloped Nottingham Station will open in the next few months, following a £67million redevelopment to transform the station into a modern, integrated transport hub.

It is hoped that the proposed works to the Carrington Street building frontages will continue to revitalise the area, together with other planned environmental improvements to the street.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transport, said: “We are delighted to have secured this important funding to help revitalise this area of Nottingham. Carrington Street boasts many high quality buildings from the turn of the century. The street has already seen significant redevelopment, and we hope this heritage led regeneration approach will not only further improve the fabric of the buildings but also encourage their occupation, making the street a more attractive destination for residents and visitors alike.”

Councillor Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Jobs and Growth, added: “We hope that the great news about securing this funding will act as a catalyst to bring more retail units back into use, improve the physical environment in this part of the city, and continue the upswing we’re seeing in the local economy. Welcoming people into the city with a regenerated gateway will show that Nottingham is a city that is serious about regeneration, business growth and job creation – but also serious about this city’s great heritage assets, and the importance of preserving them for future generations.”

Successful completion of the work will put Nottingham in a stronger position to win further funding bids by demonstrating the multiple benefits to the city of heritage led regeneration.

Vanessa Harbar, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands, said: “Carrington Street is a historic gateway into the bustling heart of Nottingham’s city centre. The area will benefit hugely from repairs and conservation work so we’re pleased to be investing upfront a grant of £34,500 in this ambitious project with further money on the table once the council’s application has been fully worked up. City centres can and should be at the heart of community life and we believe that restored, high quality shop fronts and historic features, make a real difference for businesses, residents and visitors.”

Work will now begin to produce designs, develop plans and liaise with business owners and landlords along the street, with grant funded projects expected to begin in 2015.

Further information

Nottingham City Council: Jamie O'Malley, Communications Manager on 0115 9154 368, email: jamie.omalley@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.

Heritage Lottery Fund: Robert Smith, Communications Manager for the East Midlands, on 020 7591 6245, email: roberts@hlf.org.uk.