A problem street in Nottingham is set to receive a £50,000 makeover, featuring new lighting and planting to create a “more welcoming space”.
At the start of November Nottingham City Council revealed it would be spending money to tackle a series of problems and improve the area in and around Sussex Street.
The authority now says £50,000 is being spent on improvements to the public realm area, including planting and enhanced landscaping.
The improvements are coming after an unauthorised street party took place under the tram bridge in September, after which residents living in nearby Cliff Road said they had been “plagued” by problems for years.
Castle ward councillor Matt Shannon (Lab) said on social media the improvements would include planting, weeding, and the addition of more lighting around the basketball courts.
“It’s a great entrance to our city centre, but some of the greenery around here needs a little extra love,” he said.
“We’ve secured extra investment into this area for the coming year, with £50,000 for weeding and rejuvenating the planting.
“We’ll be looking at how we can improve the basketball courts as well and add more lighting so it feels safer at night.”
Back in September a large crowd gathered at the Sussex Street skate park, off Cliff Road and next to Nottingham College and the City of Caves.
Videos shared to TikTok showed vast numbers of people dancing underneath the tram flyover, as DJs and performers played music from a makeshift stage.
The party went on until around 2 am before officers from Nottinghamshire Police arrived to send people home.
A number of other incidents have happened in the same area, including when two teenagers murdered a 24-year-old man at the skate park by throwing a brick at his head in December 2023.
The council says the money will be coming from a pot of cash made up of financial contributions from developers, made under Section 106 agreements.
These contributions are given by developers to help make their plans more acceptable, by helping to improve local areas and invest in infrastructure.
In 2024 the council said it had a total of £14m in its Section 106 pot.
A council spokeswoman added: “Section 106 funding previously announced is being used to improve the public realm around Sussex Street and the wider Broad Marsh area.
“This includes enhanced landscaping and planting, alongside a three-year maintenance programme to help the improvements mature and thrive.
“These works will create a greener, more welcoming space, encouraging active recreation and supporting the continued regeneration of the Broad Marsh neighbourhood.”
No time scales have been given for when the work will take place.
The council is also looking at potentially introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to the area in the future to prevent congregations in Sussex Street.
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