Delivering Nottingham's new 20-acre Green Heart regeneration scheme

Wed, 16th Aug, 2023 Updated: Fri, 20th Oct, 2023

Continuing Willmott Dixon's longstanding relationship with our shareholder Nottingham City Council, our construction framework partner add to their regeneration work, bringing more green spaces and public realm to cities.

The next phase of Nottingham City Council's Broad Marsh Green Heart

Willmott Dixon has been confirmed as the main contractor to deliver the next phase of Nottingham City Council’s Broad Marsh Green Heart regeneration scheme.

Procured through our construction framework, Willmott Dixon is already on-site building a new public space outside Nottingham's Central Library.

Work will commence on the remainder of the Green Heart this Autumn, a key element of the vision for Nottingham’s 20-acre Broad Marsh area. It will see the site transformed from the previous large shopping centre, which was demolished by Willmott Dixon, working closely alongside multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard, in 2022.

“Nottingham’s Broad Marsh Green Heart vision is a regeneration project with valuable green space at its core. Green space is important for the beating heart of all urban environments, and brings major benefits too, according to the World Economic Forum’s ‘BiodiverCities by 2030’ report which looked at the importance of changing the relationship between nature and our towns and cities. Public realm space like this is also one of the key ingredients of Willmott Dixon’s blueprint for urban growth.
Having been responsible for the original shopping centre demolition in 2021-2022 and sharing insight on this complicated, historic site with interested parties throughout the process, we’re excited to be maintaining a role in the transformation and using our skills to deliver the next phase.
As a local business with a strong Nottingham presence, we’re looking forward to seeing an important area of the city re-emerge and provide benefits for people that live and work here – creating a new legacy to be proud of."

- Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon

More about our work with Willmott Dixon

Ecologically rich areas

The Green Heart introduces green, ecologically rich areas and diverse natural spaces providing habitats and food for wildlife, forming a green infrastructure network linking the Broad Marsh area from Nottingham Castle through to the 36-acre Island Quarter regeneration site and beyond.

A key aim is to put the ‘marsh’ back into the Broad Marsh, introducing new urban wetlands on land that was once a marshland ecosystem to capture, slow and filter rainwater, potentially preventing flooding and creating pockets of biodiversity.

A long bench will arc through the planting and marsh allowing people to sit, enjoy and experience nature.

"More green space was by far the most popular response when we asked people what they would like to see happen around Broad Marsh as part of the huge Big Conversation engagement exercise the council ran a couple of years ago.
Anyone who has visited the area recently will see how much it has changed with lots of greenery, pedestrianised areas and seating. The creation of the Green Heart will take the transformation of Broad Marsh a major step further and be a beautiful addition to the city centre which is unique to Nottingham. I’m particularly pleased that Collin Street will be a family-friendly space that people can enjoy right outside the new Central Library.”

- Leader of Nottingham City Council, Councillor David Mellen

The regeneration scheme is being accelerated by our construction frameworks, a direct award procurement route designed to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings on construction projects.

“It is fantastic to be supporting the next phase of this iconic regeneration scheme, with a nature-first design that will encourage rewilding and improve biodiversity.

With a laser focus on sustainability, the Green Heart will create a vibrant, unique space that reflects the changing needs of society for urban, city centre locations. Providing accessible green space is not only essential for supporting the health and wellbeing of Nottingham’s residents and visitors but it also plays a key role in helping Nottingham City Council achieve their target of becoming net zero by 2028.”

- Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive, SCAPE

The design of the Green Heart is unique to Nottingham and has been developed by Townshend Landscape Architects along with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust with Ares supporting the contractor on the landscape design for the scheme.