Nottingham’s Old Market Square will soon be getting a £3.5 million makeover.
The square was last given a re-design 19 years ago.
The iconic water jets became one of the main features of the modernised ‘Slab Square’, which had been opened up to cater for large events such as Nottingham Beach and the Winter Wonderland Christmas market.
Using money from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and the Government’s Pride in Place fund, the authority will be giving it another spruce-up.
• Green space – To meet the goal of becoming a ‘Forest City’ by 2030, more trees and drought-resilient plants will be grown in the square. Taking inspiration from Paris, which now has a number of established urban forests across the city, the trees will provide more shade and cooling. Cities are exposed to what’s known as the urban heat island effect, whereby temperatures exceed those in the countryside due to the over-prevalence of concrete and asphalt.
• A new water feature: The old fountains, which have been out of order since 2022, will be bulldozed to make way for a new water feature. Cllr Neghat Khan, the leader of the council, says the authority needed a “permanent solution” to the troublesome fountains, which were deemed too expensive to repair after a water leak in the control room beneath the square. Cllr Khan said she hopes the new water feature could take inspiration from the city’s legend, Robin Hood, or an oak tree from Sherwood Forest – something that honours Nottingham’s identity and gives people a reason to come and take a look.
• New lighting: New lighting will be installed as part of efforts to continue to make the city safer, going hand in hand with the recent balaclava ban.
• Improved public realm:* More seating and an improved route from the Broad Marsh’s Green Heart park area could be created in a bid to link the south of the city with the Victoria Centre to the north. The new seating would aim to make the space better for people to dwell for some time and relax. Again, Cllr Khan expressed her fondness for Paris and how the city is known for its al fresco dining spaces fronting public spaces.
The original market square design by T.C. Howitt, the architect behind the Council House, had featured flower beds, more trees and underground public toilets, which opened in 1947.
A feedback survey will be opened in the coming weeks so that residents and visitors can give their input on what they’d like to see in a revamped Old Market Square.
The council will now appoint design specialists to develop detailed plans for improvements to the Old Market Square, with demolition expected to begin on site in January 2027 after Winter Wonderland has closed.
“We are going to have a water feature. We want some greenery. But we want people to tell us what they want,” Cllr Khan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
“I don’t think [Slab Square] suits us for what we want to do.
“Where the fountains are at the moment, we want to flatten that, look at what the public tells us around greening, use some sort of water feature so it complements the square.
“If you look back at old pictures there was a lot more greenery and I want to bring that back, because that is important.”
By Joe Locker Local Democracy Reporter