Car park and college demolition to start in autumn

Work to demolish a multi-storey car park and former college site in Nottingham is due to begin later this year, it has been announced.

The NCP car park and former Bluecoat sixth form college on Maid Marian Way form part of the wider redevelopment of the Broad Marsh area of the city.

Homes England, the government's housing and regeneration agency, bought the site last year with plans to turn it into about 1,000 homes, alongside up to 20,000 sq m (215,000 sq ft) of retail, office and community space.

Jo Nugent, executive director for the Midlands at Homes England, said demolition contractors will be appointed to tear down the car park in the coming months.

"From the autumn, the NCP car park will be part of the demolition phase," she said.

"We note that that has been something of a blight on the city centre so we're really keen to make sure we keep on track with our timescales and enable that contract to be let in the autumn."

Nugent said Homes England was currently in the process of appointing a developer with an announcement due early next year.

Construction could then begin in 2028, but no date has been set for its completion.

"We do recognise it takes a lot of collective effort to bring these projects to fruition," Nugent said.

"They're also quite dependent on the economic conditions of the country and of a local place about how quickly those opportunities can be brought to life, but Homes England has the resources and I think this is the differential here."

Large parts of the former shopping centre site have remained derelict since operators Intu went into administration in 2020, but demolition work is now under way.

There have been various proposals for the site over several decades, none of which has materialised.

The car park demolition is expected to involve some lane closures and contraflows on Maid Marian Way, with further details due to be announced in the coming weeks.

Nugent said Homes England will work to limit the amount of disruption.

"We do recognise redevelopment plans can have a short-term impact on communities, on spaces, and on places," she said.

"People will understand and know in advance when there are things happening in and around the demolition and the redevelopment which may be disruptive, including works which may affect the traffic movements and pedestrian movements between the green park and Maid Marian Way."

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