£4m set to be pumped into Nottingham's Old Market Square
Leaders have hinted at turning back on the square's fountains
It’s the centre of Nottingham. For some proud locals, it might even be the centre of the universe.
Built in 1929, Old Market Square is the second-largest public open space in the whole of the UK (yes, really) after Trafalgar Square.
But the affectionately nicknamed “Slab Square” might not be so slabby after all in a few years’ time.
Nottingham City Council have plans to redesign Old Market Square as part of their 2050 Vision – which sets out 10 ideas for how they want to improve the city over the next 25 years.
And, at the official launch of the vision in Nottingham at the Council House on Friday, June 5, council leader Councillor Neghat Khan (Lab) revealed the news that a healthy £4 million would be pumped into a first phase of work.
Speaking to investors she said: “We’re investing £4 million into Market Square. And that’s just phase one.
“People have to see the change, so there’ll be a whole consultation on what we want to do. We want to hear from the people about what you think that should look like.
“This is the heart of the city. If Nottingham is to do well then the heart of it has to be the city centre because if that thrives, that’s where your investment, your jobs, your homes and everything comes from, and then it trickles out to the neighbourhoods.”
Among teased improvements was the long-awaited turning-back-on of the square’s fountains, which have been off since June 2022.
Cllr Khan hinted that rather than fixing the existing ones, as has been done in the past, a completely new, improved set of fountains could be installed instead.
She said: “We can fix the ones that we’ve got and turn them on and after six months or whatever they’re not going to work again. What I’m saying is: Let’s fix that once and for all. So we want fountains, but what should they look like?
“I’ve got stuff in my head that I think a fountain should be something like. Why can’t it be Robin Hood with an arrow, a water feature with which lights come on? Something that gives people a reason to come to Nottingham and to look at that.”
The Nottingham Vision brochure makes a number of references to the square.
The page about plans to make Nottingham a ‘Forest City’ make reference to “a connected network of green corridors, linking to the city’s nature, its people and its economy, closely linked to the Green Grid, anchored by the Green Heart within the Broad Marsh and Central Park at Old Market Square as a powerful civic connector.”
The brochure says that by 2030, the council will have delivered early phases of a reimagined square inspired by the Green Heart and plans to “green” Sneinton Market, which begun through the installation of planters last year.
A “redesigned” Old Market Square is also referenced in a section about an “Independent Mile” route of businesses and retailers.
This part says that by 2030 the council will have “redesigned and improved Old Market Square.”
Cllr Khan said: “You don’t want concrete slabs everywhere. We recognise it. We’ve got ambitions around Carbon Neutral 28. We’re very clear that we want to see more greenery and that’s really important. Because residents always tell us it is.
“The Green Heart that we’ve got has gone down really well and people want to see more of that. When you’re in the Green Heart you don’t feel like you’re in a busy city centre. We want to make sure that it’s good for everyone.”
Chief Executive Sajeeda Rose added: “(Old Market Square) is also a really important place for events. Some of the best cities have big open spaces that they activate and they use.
“So Market Square as part of the heart of the city is also a really important prominent point, and we want to make sure that it feels and looks in the way that we want it.”
Rob Webster, from consultants ARUP, who helped put together the vision, added: “The word ‘forest’ has got such a strong connotation of Nottingham, but does the city always feel as green as it should?
“It’s about trying to use the really strong foundation of the Green Heart, link it into all of those green spaces that surround the edge of the centre, but basically just make it all feel more connected.”
The £4m funding for the project will be made up of cash from the East Midlands Combined Authority, to the sum of £2.5m, as well as some Pride in Place funding from the government.
The drafting of a consultation around what possible options could be for the square is currently in progress, added the chief executive.
Ms Rose said: “This vision is part of the start of an aspiration. We need to work up the details, certainly around things like the Market Square.
“We’ve got some funding, we’ve got some ideas, but as ever we need to test those to see what we can deliver and what we can achieve with the money that we’ve got and what’s practical. So watch this space.”