Willmott Dixon to deliver new Green Heart regeneration scheme

Willmott Dixon has been confirmed as the main contractor to deliver the next phase of Nottingham City Council’s Broad Marsh Green Heart regeneration scheme.

Procured through the SCAPE Construction framework, Willmott Dixon is already on-site building a new public space outside Nottingham's Central Library.

Work will commence on the remainder of the Green Heart this Autumn, a key element of the vision for Nottingham’s 20-acre Broad Marsh area. It will see the site transformed from the previous large shopping centre, which was demolished by Willmott Dixon, working closely alongside multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard, in 2022.

Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “Nottingham’s Broad Marsh Green Heart vision is a regeneration project with valuable green space at its core. Green space is important for the beating heart of all urban environments, and brings major benefits too, according to the World Economic Forum’s ‘BiodiverCities by 2030’ report which looked at the importance of changing the relationship between nature and our towns and cities. Public realm space like this is also one of the key ingredients of Willmott Dixon’s blueprint for urban growth

“Having been responsible for the original shopping centre demolition in 2021-2022 and sharing insight on this complicated, historic site with interested parties throughout the process, we’re excited to be maintaining a role in the transformation and using our skills to deliver the next phase.

“As a local business with a strong Nottingham presence, we’re looking forward to seeing an important area of the city re-emerge and provide benefits for people that live and work here – creating a new legacy to be proud of.”

The Green Heart introduces green, ecologically rich areas and diverse natural spaces providing habitats and food for wildlife, forming a green infrastructure network linking the Broad Marsh area from Nottingham Castle through to the 36-acre Island Quarter regeneration site and beyond.

A key aim is to put the ‘marsh’ back into the Broad Marsh, introducing new urban wetlands on land that was once a marshland ecosystem to capture, slow and filter rainwater, potentially preventing flooding and creating pockets of biodiversity.

A long bench will arc through the planting and marsh allowing people to sit, enjoy and experience nature.

The regeneration scheme is being accelerated by SCAPE Construction, a direct award framework designed to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings on construction projects.

The design of the Green Heart is unique to Nottingham and has been developed by Townshend Landscape Architects along with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust with Ares supporting the contractor on the landscape design for the scheme.