Nottingham City Council has approved the reallocation of £290,000 to create a new Regeneration Team aimed at accelerating major development projects and helping the city secure funding from regional and national bodies.
The decision redirects money previously earmarked for Broad Marsh holding costs.
These funds have now become available following the sale of the Broad Marsh site to Homes England earlier this year.
The move comes as the council seeks to rebuild capacity to deliver major regeneration projects, after years of reduced resources within its Growth and City Development department.
The new team will focus on unlocking growth and tackling deprivation through schemes such as Broad Marsh, Waterside and the Island Quarter, as well as supporting private developers with their delivery plans.
Officials say the new team is essential to ensure Nottingham can make the most of emerging opportunities linked to the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and the city’s designation as a Homes England Priority Place.
These could bring significant external funding, but the council says current staff capacity is too limited to prepare bids or manage large-scale schemes effectively.
A council report accompanying the decision states that “locally driven regeneration is essential to unlock growth, tackle deprivation, and improve the quality of life of residents.” It warns that delaying the creation of the team could mean Nottingham misses out on funding that other local authorities are already accessing through EMCCA and Homes England initiatives.
The £290,000 allocation for the remainder of the 2025/26 financial year will cover £60,000 towards permanent team members, £140,000 for interim staff to provide immediate expertise, and £90,000 for surveys and feasibility studies.
The full annual cost of the team is projected to be around £400,000 and has been included in the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2026/27, pending approval.
Senior Project Manager Anne-Marie Barclay is overseeing the establishment of the new team, which will work closely with the council’s housing regeneration division and contribute to the city’s upcoming “City Vision” strategy.
The council’s Strategic Finance Business Partner, Susan Turner, confirmed the funding reallocation fits within existing financial plans but cautioned that delays in recruitment could “result in missed external funding opportunities and hinder the council’s ability to deliver future regeneration schemes.”
The decision was classed as operational, as it falls below the £300,000 threshold and sits within the delegated authority of the Corporate Director.