Nottingham City Council has approved a scheme to deliver public realm improvements on St Peter’s Street in Radford, with works expected to take place over spring 2026.
The decision allows for works valued at up to £242,097 to be carried out, funded primarily through a Section 106 developer contribution linked to nearby student accommodation, alongside additional highways funding.
The funding originates from a planning agreement tied to the development of purpose-built student accommodation at Deakins Place, approved in 2021, which required contributions towards improvements to public spaces and pedestrian routes in the surrounding area. The agreement specified that the funding must be committed by September 2026, creating a deadline for delivery.
The scheme focuses on upgrading an area described by the council as tired and in need of investment, particularly as footfall has increased due to nearby residential growth, student accommodation and business activity. Plans include new seating, planting and improved signage, alongside designated parking areas for e-bikes and e-scooters.
The location sits along the River Leen corridor, which forms part of Nottingham’s wider walking and cycling network. The improvements are intended to enhance the route as a destination within that network and support active travel in the area.
The project has been developed through a multi-disciplinary design process involving highways, planning, urban design, road safety and green space teams, with a road safety audit completed to confirm there are no major concerns. Plans also include relocating six young trees within the Radford ward.
Additional funding of £35,000 has been allocated through the council’s Streets for People programme, which delivers small-scale improvements to neighbourhoods across the city. This contribution has been used to upgrade the specification of features such as raised planters, aligning the design with other recent public realm schemes in Nottingham.
Councillors have been consulted throughout the design process, including transport portfolio holders and local ward members, with no objections raised.
Construction work is scheduled to begin during the Easter holiday period in 2026 to reduce disruption, particularly given the high proportion of students living in the surrounding area. The council expects the works to take between seven and nine weeks to complete, with no carriageway works planned, meaning minimal impact on traffic.
The decision also confirms the project will be delivered through the council’s highways service using existing framework contractors, rather than an external tender process. Officers said this approach reduces the risk of delays and helps ensure the scheme is completed within the timeframe required to secure the developer funding.
The council said failing to proceed with the scheme could risk the Section 106 funding being reclaimed, as it is restricted to use within the immediate area and must be committed by the specified deadline.
Officials have also sought to limit future costs by selecting materials and designs that will not increase long-term maintenance liabilities for the authority, while still delivering an uplift to the area that would otherwise have been unlikely without external funding.
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