Project boss backs shops facelift

Plans to redevelop the centre have been around for almost 20 years

A £700m shopping centre redevelopment in Nottingham will go ahead despite cash problems, officials have said.

In April, developers Westfield confirmed long-standing plans to refurbish the Broadmarsh Centre had been delayed due to the recession.

No restart date was given but at the time managers said work would be delayed for "at least two years".

But the head of Nottingham Regeneration has said a lot important work was going on behind the scenes.

The city council has been planning the redevelopment of the Broadmarsh for almost two decades.

Quick restart

Nottingham Regeneration is a body which brings together private and public bodies to coordinate work in the city.

Its chief executive John Nicholls has insisted the project is still very much on the cards.

"The Broadmarsh is one of only two places in the whole country that Westfield are carrying on doing preliminary work like buying land and putting the deal together.

"This means they can be off the starting blocks very quickly when better times return."

He added: "There may not be any cranes on site but I know there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make it happen".