Old Market Square could be redesigned as part of Nottingham City Council’s long-term vision for the city.
The council has confirmed that £4 million will be used for the first phase of work on the square, which is one of the UK’s largest public spaces and is often known locally as “Slab Square”.
The proposals form part of the Nottingham 2050 Vision, which sets out 10 ideas for how the city could develop over the next 25 years.
Council leader Councillor Neghat Khan said the authority wanted residents to have a say on what changes should be made.
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.”
One possible change is the return of water features to the square. The fountains have been switched off since June 2022.
Cllr Khan said the council may look at replacing the existing fountains rather than carrying out further repairs.
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 refers to plans to create a greener city centre, including a network of green corridors linked to the Broad Marsh, Green Heart and Old Market Square.
It says that by 2030 the council aims to have delivered early phases of a reimagined square, inspired by the Green Heart and other greening schemes such as the planters installed at Sneinton Market last year.
The document also refers to a redesigned Old Market Square as part of an “Independent Mile” route for businesses and retailers.
Council officers confirmed that greening the square is a major part of the plans.
Cllr Khan said: “It is about greening it because 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.”
Nottingham City Council chief executive Sajeeda Rose said the square also needed to remain an important events space.
She said: “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, which helped put together the vision, said the plans were also about making the city centre feel more connected to green spaces.
He said: “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 £4 million for the first phase will include £2.5 million from the East Midlands Combined County Authority, alongside Pride in Place funding from the Government.
The council is now preparing a consultation on possible options for the square.
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.”
