The two couldn’t look more different, the library and bus station is pushing ahead and the Broadmarsh progress has come to an abrupt halt.
Nottingham’s brand new Central Library and bus station development is well underway now, with the fascia giving a good idea as to how things will start to look in the city centre.
The Library will be a network of connected spaces for meetings, collaboration and concentration, supported by multi-media resources, including books, journals and IT.
Split into zones to easily navigate the library, a spacious entrance area including a café leads to an extensive children’s section providing a wide array of books and spaces for storytime, a play cave area for children to explore, a creative wall and a science and creativity zone.
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Just across Collin Street, however, all work has ceased on the intu Broadmarsh development.
• Intu Broadmarsh Centre to close temporarily from today – shops will not reopen on Monday
Retail giant Intu was already facing significant financial difficulties before the coronavirus crisis, reporting losses of £2 billion, and this week warned it would likely default on some debts if lenders were not able to give them more flexibility.
On Thursday, 21 May, Intu has said it is ‘taking stock’ and ‘reviewing the next step’ for the Broadmarsh project.
Councillor David Mellen, has said: “We’re in a position where construction has paused at the Broadmarsh centre, but we’re also bearing in mind the fact that the company Intu is in some difficulties.
“We are in negotiations with them, looking at our own position in terms of contracts we’ve signed and being aware that not everything we planned can continue in the way we planned it.
Asked what contingency plans were being investigated, Councillor Mellen said: “In the background, we are thinking and considering what else could take its place.
“We know how crucial that site is to the whole of the south side redevelopment.
“But we’re not going to be going down that route until we’re clear that there aren’t any ways of that work carrying on under the present regime.
“So we need to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep with the current arrangements, whilst having an eye to what might happen if we can’t do that.”
The Intu Broadmarsh and the under-construction Broadmarsh Bus Station, Car Park and Library, were set to be the centrepieces of a £2 billion redevelopment of the south side of the city, from the city centre down to The Meadows.
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Rather than purely having a focus on retail – as had largely been the case with the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre previously – it is hoped the new centre will include more leisure options, including bowling, more eateries and a multi-screen cinema.
But while work has been halted at the shopping centre, construction continues around it, including on the bus station complex, the new HMRC offices and a large student block opposite the railway station.
An spokesman for Intu said: “COVID-19 has had an impact on all industries across the UK and the retail sector is no exception.
“The majority of retail businesses have felt pressure and challenges in these unprecedented times.
“All but essential stores have been closed since March 24 and work on the Intu Broadmarsh development was paused as well.
“Given the upheaval in the market, we have taken the difficult decision to pause further activity on the site so that we can take stock and review the next steps for the development.
“We know how important this is to Nottingham, and will give people an update as soon as we can.”
