Nottingham Heritage Strategy
A future heritage for the city
Nottingham’s Heritage strategy is a partnership document, produced by Nottingham City Council in consultation with stakeholders across the city. Foreword
Nottingham has a distinct sense of ‘place’. It’s somewhere different, somewhere special and, for those who live in the city, somewhere local. The diversity of the city’s heritage is its strength, and its history of growth, adaptation and development has helped establish a cultural destination and an economic centre where people can invest with confidence.
Nottingham has a track record of successful heritage-led regeneration, attracting substantial inward investment and channelling it into the city’s open spaces, historic buildings and local communities. The latest and most ambitious project will transform Nottingham Castle, celebrating over 1000 years of history, exploring the city’s well-earned reputation as a place of protest and rebellion and showcasing its prestigious heritage and art collections.
Over the next fifteen years Nottingham and its heritage will face We urge all partners to unite behind this common strategy, a number of challenges. The Nottingham Plan sets the direction working together to ensure the city can continue to celebrate and to transform the city into a safer, greener, healthier and more capitalise on its rich heritage to help grow and develop the city prosperous place. Our heritage has a central role to play in for the benefit of many generations to come. delivering these aspirations, helping to raise the standard of living and promote the city as an international cultural destination and place to do business.
Our history provides the foundation for growth, fosters local identity and promotes social cohesion and well-being. Nottingham’s Growth Plan seeks to grow and diversify the city, reconnecting it with its historical roots and re-establishing a brand built on a history of industrial and entrepreneurial success. This legacy has a central role in creating a diverse economy, driving forward distinctive development and promoting the city as a place to invest. The Nottingham Heritage Strategy provides a forward looking framework, ensuring that the city’s past Councillor Nick MacDonald Councillor Cat Arnold achievements have an inspiring role in how we plan for its future.
A unique asset, the city’s heritage offers positive returns on investment, with economic benefits felt across tourism, business, education and quality of life for our communities. Improving our understanding of heritage will enable us to promote and celebrate it better, attracting more visitors, businesses and investment to the city. Opportunities to leverage our heritage are abundant and we must capitalise on its potential, using it as an inspirational driving force in how Nottingham grows and regenerates.
The Nottingham City Heritage Strategy is a rallying call to all of us to join forces to profit more from our past, using it to deliver the city’s ambitions now and in the future. It sets a direction of travel, acting as a catalyst amongst partners to create a future heritage for the city. Significant amounts of time and investment from Councillor Jane Urquhart Councillor Dave Trimble across charitable, voluntary, public and private sectors will be required, and Nottingham City Council is committed to playing its part. The Year 1 Action Plan will put the necessary infrastructure in place and generate momentum by bringing together partners and celebrating projects already active in the city.
Images provided courtesy of: Nottingham City Council, Nottingham Trent University, Marstons PLC, Brewery, Visit Nottinghamshire and Martine Hamilton Knight. Design by Joanna Bayes - [email protected] Nottingham Heritage Strategy - Introduction
Introduction
From folklore to fashion, Nottingham has an exciting and diverse past. A short half mile journey between the Church of St. Mary in the Lace Market and Nottingham Castle will take you through more than 1500 years of history. Its role in creating the city’s unique sense of place cannot be underestimated.
n Understand the contribution that the Make your way through This strategy historic environment makes to the city Nottingham is a changing city, but an ancient Saxon town n Capitalise on the existing and potential and wander along Norman this is nothing new. Each generation roles that heritage brings to city life builds on the achievements of the last, streets. Head up to the shaping a city inspired by the best n Celebrate the city’s rich past, medieval site of the Castle, elements of the past and providing the promoting Nottingham as a distinctive strategically perched best future for its people. place to live and visit above a landscape it has The city’s heritage is a force in regeneration The City Council is proud to play a lead dominated for centuries. and its future can only be ensured by role in ensuring that the legacy left for On your way you’ll bringing communities together, united by a future generations is as good, if not pass over networks of vision to encourage investment and build better, than the one we enjoy today. caves, hewn by hand a healthy and quality environment through This strategy provides a shared and sustainable change. The Nottingham City deep down into the flexible framework through which existing Heritage Strategy 2015 - 2030 sets out a expertise, resources and skills in the city’s soft sandstone, vision to do just that. city can come together to the benefit of and archaeology that the city. The Year 1 Action Plan puts the dates back to the earliest The strategy’s vision is to necessary infrastructure in place to deliver settlement of the city. The establish a vibrant, valued the strategy, forming an inspirational first streets, open spaces and step to help heritage play an even more and widely-known heritage active role in city life. buildings along the way which delivers long term reveal the city’s fortunes from the medieval period benefits to the people, to the modern, establishing economy and environment Nottingham as the of the City of Nottingham. dominant settlement in the East Midlands. Bringing people together Passed from one generation to the next, our heritage is shared equally among everyone with an interest in the city. The city’s heritage is a force in regeneration and its future can only be ensured by bringing communities together, united by a determination to encourage investment and build a healthy and quality environment through sustainable change. It is right, therefore, that the List of Potential Heritage Projects accompanying this strategy has been developed alongside key What happens next is up to all of us. stakeholders across the city.
1 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 01 - Nottingham’s Heritage
01 Nottingham’s Heritage
They are an extraordinary way to With names such as Byron, Lawrence experience the city. Often hidden from and Sillitoe, Nottingham is a writers’ view, many are opening to the public city with collections of international and can be explored online and through importance and tangible cultural a dedicated 3D mobile app. connections to authors past and present. The city’s Festival of Words celebrates With £1.38m secured from diverse literary and spoken word culture. the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Traditions, stories and customs are caves under the Malt Cross, not embedded in places across the city. accessible since the First World Market Square hosts an array of food War, have been re-opened as a markets, fairs, and civic events. The gallery and event space. Goose Fair is over 700 years old, attracting more than 350,000 people each year, The city’s rich archaeology provides showing how Nottingham takes a unique invaluable insight into Nottingham’s origins and contemporary approach to embracing and of the way previous inhabitants lived its historic traditions. their lives. Excavations show that the city was first settled around the 7th century, St Ann’s Allotments, a Grade II* Caves, Archaeology becoming one of five fortified Danish Registered Park and Garden, is & Tradition Burghs in the East Midlands, known as the oldest and largest area of the Danelaw. Since then inhabitants have Victorian detached town gardens Nottingham is shaped and left their own mark in the archaeological in the world. It provides an inner- characterised by its geography. Two record, telling us how Nottingham became city community with 75 acres of exposed sandstone outcrops stand the city it is today. Many areas of the city valuable green space. like sentinels at the heart of the city, are yet to be explored. giving it its distinctive skyline. They underpin the very foundation of the The Saxon tanning and pottery city, a defensive position at a strategic industries, Danish built defences, crossing point of the River Trent. The Norman breweries and prosperous river, and later the Nottingham Canal, medieval ecclesiastical economies were key transport arteries. Today they have all left their mark in the city’s have recreational uses, with public archaeological record. parks along their banks.
The Saxons set the foundations for Nottingham is a place that values its the city, the ancient street pattern still social history like no other, revering its traceable in those of the Lace Market. In legends and celebrating its heroes. The 1068, the Normans established their own city made its name as a place of popular stronghold on the opposing Castle Rock, uprising and rebellion, and the statue of with the Market Square sitting strategically its most famous outlaw, Robin Hood, between the two centres of power. stands outside the castle gates. The beloved Nottingham Forest Manager, Over the years the city expanded into the Brian Clough, is celebrated in similar ground, creating more than 550 unique style in Market Square. Nottingham is a man-made caves and rock-cut houses. place of achievement. Ibuprofen and MRI Caves were used for storage, brewing Scanning were invented here and famous and leatherworking and more recently as public figures, Nobel Prize winners and air raid shelters, pubs and restaurants. Olympians have called the city home.
During the 18th century caves Many Nottingham companies, formed subterranean extensions to such as Boots and Raleigh, are high-status houses, many of which household names. The Boots are highly ornate, such as ‘Columns family established two important Cave’ in The Park. parks, Victoria Embankment and Highfields, and founded The University of Nottingham, one of two world-class educational institutions in the city. 2 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 01 - Nottingham’s Heritage
Open spaces are integral to how They have an important role in sport Cityscape the city has evolved and continue and recreation and are significant visitor attractions in their own right. Natural Nottingham is an ancient yet modern to influence how it regenerates. open spaces, trees and waterways destination - a bustling centre packed The Nottingham Contemporary throughout the city are intrinsic to its full with historic buildings and open gallery now fronts and encloses the character. They create an interplay spaces. The stories and events that former 16th century marketplace between built and natural elements surround the people of Nottingham are by the Weekday Cross, the historic of the city, making an invaluable ingrained within its cityscape, making centre of the city. contribution to people’s quality of life. it the distinctive place it is today. The city’s castle and grounds sit at its heart. More than 130 open spaces, parks and The city has an exciting cultural heritage A seat of royal and noble power, it has gardens in the city have longstanding programme delivered through many a seminal role in British history. It has roles as places to meet, trade and museums, theatres, galleries and venues. played host to queens and parliaments, congregate. Nine are Registered Parks Collections are of local and international kings have been imprisoned and and Gardens, recognised for their special importance. The working Green’s declared, and many strategic battles historic interest, three are designated Windmill is a museum and science centre lost and won. as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 13 and the Galleries of Justice Museum as local nature reserves and more than houses the HM Prison Service Collection. Historic buildings make up a 70 as geological and biological Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. substantial proportion of the city’s Historic buildings and building stock, with more than 800 Varying from small gardens such as at Wellington Circus, to large public infrastructure throughout the city Listed Buildings and many more are being reused and re-purposed of local importance. Picturesque recreation fields including the Arboretum, Forest Recreation Ground and Victoria - supporting and sustaining streets with shops and houses growth. Together they continue to spanning over three centuries Embankment, open spaces bring colour, nature and vibrancy to the city, breaking provide a legacy of how previous make for an intimate, changing generations strived and succeeded character. 31 areas are protected up the continuity of the buildings and providing opportunity for public art. in making Nottingham a special as Conservation Areas for their place to live. historic and aesthetic value. Nottingham’s oldest parks, including Wollaton Park, date back to medieval Once a world centre of lace times. Their roles have continually manufacturing, the city has a long evolved; often reserved for the wealthy history of industrial innovation and few, they are now cherished public success. During the Georgian and spaces. Today, their unique settings play Victorian periods the canals and host to major civic events and festivals. railways transported products across the world, and Nottingham flourished. Stately townhouses and villas, planned developments of workers’ housing and imposing mills and warehouses are testament to a period of great labour, wealth and innovation.
The Nottingham Enclosure Act of 1845 enabled the city to expand into common lands surrounding the city. The Act still protects the many parks and green spaces communally held by the citizens of Nottingham today.
Across the city, civic buildings, from the imposing Neo-Baroque Council House in Market Square to swimming pools, theatres and schools, celebrate Nottingham’s long history of philanthropy and community. Nottingham is a world centre for further education too, its architecture powerfully expressed in the Trent and Newton university buildings.
3 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 02 - Benefits and Challenges
02 Our City’s Heritage - Benefits And Challenges
A sustainable future for Nottingham hinges on heritage continuing to play a central role in city life. It provides the foundation for growth, fosters local identity and promotes social cohesion and well- being. It is the basis of the city’s allure and a benchmark for change.
4 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 02 - Benefits
Regneration & Growth cultural and economic benefits of Benefits regenerating historic assets go beyond Nottingham’s unique heritage offers their footprint, helping to retain and The diversity of Nottingham’s heritage is a positive return on investment. For enhance an area’s sense of place and its strength, able to adapt to the modern businesses, the historic environment is reinforce social identity. Moreover, the day needs of the city. Small Victorian as important in deciding where to locate re-use of existing buildings is typically retail units house independent boutique as road access (Heritage Counts, 2010). the most environmentally sustainable shops and bars in Hockley, restaurants Listed buildings attract businesses in the way to develop (Heritage Works, 2013). and services have centred around the most productive sectors of the economy Redeveloped buildings and spaces Castle, and the statuesque industrial (HLF, 2013). Promoting an active role for throughout the city show how heritage buildings of the Lace Market offer high- heritage in regeneration and development assets can accommodate changes of use end commercial and residential uses. is key to securing investment and and creative new architecture. releasing the potential held within the Tourism historic fabric of the city. Commercial investments in listed buildings yield a higher return than Heritage tourism contributes more to the The benefits of heritage-led regeneration UK economy than the advertising, film, are clear. Heritage assets are going unlisted commercial property over or car industries. In England, 53% of concerns, their architectural personality 3, 5, 10 and 30 year periods (Colliers us visit a historic town or city and 42% already established and integrated International, 2011). visit a museum or gallery at least once a into the cityscape. Conservation and year. With upwards of 12 million visitors regeneration can be undertaken with per year, tourism in the city is worth an confidence in the end result. The estimated £466m. Nottingham Castle and Wollaton Hall are the two most visited museums in the East Midlands, each attracting around 200,000 visitors annually.
The Galleries of Justice won the Gold Award for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year in the 2014 Visit England Awards for Excellence. The museum has gone on to secure £900k from the Heritage Lottery Fund to improve the way visitors enjoy its unique buildings, collections and stories.
Shopping The city’s retail catchment is over 3.8 million, of which it only attracts 37%. Nottingham’s heritage provides a real opportunity to raise the city’s retail profile and ranking amongst other major centres. Shoppers now want more than just shops. Architecture, a unique sense of place, museums, galleries and public places are all part of a combined leisure and retail offer that draws people into a city, encouraging them to explore more and stay for longer.
Approximately 1 in 5 visitors to areas that have had historic environment investment spend more in the local area than they did before, and 1 in 4 businesses have seen the number of customers increase (Heritage Counts, 2010).
5 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 02 - Benefits
Culture Health and Social Well-being Constructive Conservation Heritage is a core part of Nottingham’s Involvement and enjoyment of the Constructive conservation encourages busy cultural calendar, with a year- historic environment benefits our health. change that reinforces historic round diary of music, literary and artistic Access to the historic parks, gardens significance and meets the needs events. Historic buildings across the and other open spaces has significant of future generations. Effective city have been repurposed as retail benefits to our physical and mental management of the city’s heritage and leisure attractions. The Unitarian health. Research shows how natural by all parties demands a flexible and Church now houses the Pitcher and views can lower blood pressure and collaborative approach that recognises Piano bar, Nottingham Arts Theatre is stress and improvements to the built that heritage is one of a number of found within a former Baptist Chapel, environment have been shown to considerations in how the city develops. and the famously intimate concert improve mental well-being (Benefits venue Rock City entertains crowds in a of Heritage, HLF, 2012). Attentive and The City Council has a lead former industrial building. Purpose built inclusive quality design influences social role in managing the historic venues such as the City Ground, Trent behaviour, and can help reduce crime. environment, meeting statutory Bridge Cricket Ground, the Playhouse obligations set out by the National and Theatre Royal have become iconic Volunteers of Heritage Lottery Planning Policy Framework and cultural destinations in their own right. Fund projects report levels of setting an example with its own Museums and galleries across the city mental health and well-being that portfolio of historic assets. have a key cultural role, reinforcing local are far higher than for the general cultural identities, celebrating diversity population, or for the general and supporting creative industry. volunteering population, particularly Investment regarding self-worth and social Heritage attracts significant investment connectedness (HLF, 2011). from public, private and charitable sectors to the benefit of the city. With a proven track record, Nottingham is a place to invest confidently. Heritage funding can be paired with existing resources, significantly boosting the benefit development brings to Nottingham. Investment into valued elements of the cityscape can help boost local business and identity (Heritage Works, 2013).
£24m of funding will help transform Nottingham Castle and bring to life a 1,000 years of history. The Heritage Lottery Fund has endorsed an initial bid of £12.9m to redevelop the landmark as a world class visitor attraction.
Nottingham’s heritage provides important employment opportunities, drawing skilled professionals into the city and promoting the city as a place of world-class research. Heritage assets and attractions across the city form a self-sufficient and profitable part of its economy.
Since the implementation of a five year business plan, Newstead Abbey has significantly increased visitor numbers and broken even a year ahead of schedule.
6 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 02 - Benefits
Local People Heritage Learning through the Nottingham Arts Framework, heritage has applications in nearly every Every community has its own history, In 2012 more than 1.62 million school field of study. which forms part of the city’s heritage. visits were made to historic properties The ability to share and participate in nationwide (Heritage Counts, 2013), Community Interest Company heritage is an essential ingredient of emphasising the important role our Greenshoots secured a disused community cohesion, helping to reinforce cultural heritage has in delivering warehouse in the city’s historic identity in Nottingham. More than half the National Curriculum. In further Lace Market centre for use as a million people volunteer in the historic education, Nottingham is a world leader a multi-functional arts venue environment each year (Heritage Counts, in heritage research, and this resource with education, exhibition, 2011). Regeneration of the historic has considerable potential to enhance performance and retail initiatives. environment benefits individual assets, Nottingham’s profile and increasingly Working closely with schools and the wider area around them and the draw in audiences and students from community groups, Greenshoots communities which value and associate around the world. uses media, fashion and art to with them. generate interest, understanding Over the last five years, The and expression about local culture, The City Council’s Museum and University of Nottingham has including heritage. Galleries has a strong track attracted £1.5m in direct external record of empowering local investment to heritage projects people. Its volunteer programme, including the Raleigh project and launched in 2009, with just 10 the Theatre Royal Archive project. volunteers, increased to 280 regular volunteers offering 22,493 The historic environment offers students hours of activity during 2013/14. of all levels and subjects the chance to The new Castle Redevelopment learn about cultural heritage first-hand. Project now has an ambitious With strong ties to arts, culture and the target to engage 1,000 volunteers sciences, drawn together in the city in the course of the project.
7 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 02 - Challenges
An Expanding City Nottingham is a growing city, with an expanding city centre population and large areas earmarked for regeneration. The city is keen to re-establish itself as one of the top retail destinations in the country, with a combined cultural and shopping experience and as a national centre for science, innovation, sports and culture. At the same time it is seeking to be increasingly environmentally sustainable, with efficient new developments and a greener transport infrastructure.
Ensuring heritage plays an active and inspirational role in the city’s development is a key challenge. Many areas of the city are sensitive to change and care must be taken to retain and enhance the city’s unique sense of place and its legacy of industrial and cultural excellence. Heritage must not be a barrier to growth, but its full potential captured and used in how the city moves forward.
Improving Condition Parts of the city’s heritage are in urgent need of repair and conservation. Long- term sustainable uses must be found for vacant and deteriorating assets, prioritising those most in need of repair. Those in better condition must continue to be maintained and improved so that they can continue to contribute to the city’s character and culture.
The national Heritage at Risk Register includes several Conservation Areas and All potential avenues of funding, the recently completed Challenges including developer contributions, Nottinghamshire Buildings at Over the next 15 years Nottingham charitable sources and direct Risk survey identifies over twenty and its heritage face a number of public and private investment, Listed Buildings in desperate challenges. The Nottingham Plan to must be used to stimulate the need of repair. 2020 sets the direction to transform the city’s resources and draw in much city into a safer, greener, healthier and needed external funding. Health, Education and more prosperous place. Our heritage The city has an active voluntary network Well-being has a key part to play in delivering these and is well stocked with world-class The City of Nottingham has a higher than aspirations, helping the city to become expertise. Skills and experience must average rate of people with a limiting long- a world-class place to live and visit. be put to work, and capacity and term illness or disability and scores poorly understanding built through outreach in indicators of child well-being. Through Finding the Resources and training. Alternative structures of its ability to contribute to social and The necessary resources need to be ownership and management, such as physical well-being, engage in education, found to manage and promote the city’s charitable trusts, need to be considered encourage access to open spaces and heritage. As an irreplaceable and finite as they can help secure much needed promote social cohesion, heritage can resource, securing a sustainable future funds and resources, increase help improve the fortunes of people who for the city’s heritage must be a priority. participation, and reduce financial live in the city. Key to achieving this will The challenge is to diversify approaches burdens associated with heritage assets. be to make heritage accessible to all, to securing investment and make best increasing understanding and access use of the resources already available. through constructive conservation, education, and celebration.
8 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 02 - Challenges
Cultural Offer The Nottingham Asian Arts Council With a multicultural demographic and higher than average levels of deprivation, Despite having one of the most is a charitable company with a unemployment and disability, the city diverse and intriguing heritage offers record of community and cultural must also work hard to ensure that of any city in the UK, Nottingham’s working to promote South Asian heritage is accessible to everyone living cultural offer is centred on its beloved arts, supporting the development and visiting Nottingham. Nottingham’s outlaw, Robin Hood. The challenge is of important cultural infrastructure strong tradition of voluntary and to broaden the city’s cultural offer by within the city, including New Art charitable activity will have a major role showcasing its built, natural and social Exchange. It was one of the first to play in this endeavour. heritage, developing it as a national and such bodies in Britain, established international destination of choice. at local level, to promote Asian arts in the community. In 2014 a partnership of Important steps towards raising Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham’s profile have already Accessibility Hotknife Design and Nottingham City Council, funded by a NESTA been taken in the form of the Much of Nottingham’s heritage is Nottingham Castle Project and Digital Research and Development intangible. Whether caves cut deep into Fund Programme, set about an impending bid to become a the city’s bedrock or stories of legends UNESCO City of Literature. creating a series of ground and historic events, Nottingham faces breaking augmented virtual reality a challenge in increasing both physical products based on the city’s With a high population turnover, large (c. and intellectual access to its historic Reform Bill Riots of 1831. 60,000) student community and over a environment. The challenge is to make third of the city’s residents originating from heritage more available, accessible and Black and Minority Ethnic groups, the city meaningful, adopting new, innovative faces a further challenge in both engaging ways for encouraging people to enjoy with and celebrating the heritage of the the full spectrum of our city’s heritage. full spectrum of the city’s demographic. This can be met by ensuring that people from all generations and communities can contribute to, share in and enjoy a common cultural heritage.
9 HistoricNottingham Nottingham Heritage - Strategy A strategy 03 to - stimulateWorking Together the city’s heritage
03 Working Together
Nottingham City Council helped secure over £15.2m of funding, including from the Heritage Lottery and European Rural Development Funds, for restoration of two of the city’s most loved parks, Forest Recreation Ground and Wollaton Hall, Gardens & Deer Park. A collaboration of Network Rail and East Midlands Trains has seen the complete renovation of the city’s Grade II* Listed train station and upgrading of infrastructure at a cost of over £67m.
10 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 03 - Working Together
Everyone in Nottingham has Private Sector Education a stake in the city’s heritage. Successfully delivering this Much of Nottingham’s heritage is held The city’s schools, colleges and strategy depends on our ability in private or collective ownership. Major universities are key partners in delivering to work together to regenerate, landowners and organisations, such as the strategy. Pupils and students conserve and promote the historic the universities, colleges and faith groups, present an enthusiastic audience and environment. Forums, such as the alongside independent developers, a considerable volunteer resource. The Nottingham Arts Framework, are property owners and entrepreneurs, benefits of a closer relationship between essential in achieving economies help to safeguard the city’s heritage and those in education and the city’s heritage of scale and bringing communities stimulate investment in it. are significant. Skills and expertise and organisations with common within the sector can stimulate interest interests together. In 2013 a partnership of Lenton within local communities and draw upon Local History Society, Nottingham international connections to support the City Council and Trent & Peak delivery of this strategy. Communities Archaeology surveyed the Local societies are a motivated archaeology of Lenton Priory. The Nottingham Museums and and skilled resource, providing Lenton Priory Community Survey Galleries operate an extensive essential expertise about the city’s enabled local people to contribute engagement programme, heritage, particularly about their to research about an important supported with funds from Arts local areas. The Thoroton Society part of the city’s heritage. Council England. Each year more and Nottingham Civic Society than 65,000 people, including Development presents a significant promote knowledge, understanding 30,000 school pupils, participate in opportunity for the city’s heritage, and and appreciation of Nottingham’s a range of learning activities. One larger asset management plans have heritage and encourage its example is the Nottingham Access wide-ranging outcomes for its future. sustainable development. A range Artefacts initiative, which makes Independently owned shops, museums of other organisations across the a specialised collection of more and other amenities in the city are all city, with strong links to cultural than 10,000 artefacts available key to promoting Nottingham’s unique heritage, have active volunteer to schools and communities. In heritage offer. The invaluable contributions groups who, directly and indirectly, consultation with a teachers’ focus made by individuals and organisations already engage with the city’s group the programme will expand must be celebrated, and examples of historic environment. through new media and resources good practice recognised, helping ensure that respond to curriculum and The Threads costume gallery heritage continues to have a pro-active project opportunities. at Nottingham Castle, which role in the city’s economy. displays a range of clothes Importantly, many of those who will Award winning property design, and textiles from around the be charged with the future of our development and management world, opened in 2004 to city’s heritage are now in education. company Bildurn Properties reflect diverse communities in Educational curriculums and networks has worked closely with the the city. The gallery has gone have a central role in raising awareness City Council on the proposed on to work with the Polish, and understanding of the city’s heritage refurbishment of the historic Bosnian, South Asian, African- and in providing the skills necessary Gresham Hotel. Together with Caribbean, Angolan, Chinese, for its management, ensuring it can be an HLF funded scheme currently and Ukrainian communities, enjoyed for generations to come. in development the project will building community links and contribute to the regeneration inspiring spin-off activities. of the city’s southern gateway; Nottingham’s diverse demographic conserving and promoting means its heritage encompasses a the sustainable use of historic rich mix of cultural traditions. Local buildings. groups are essential to ensuring that heritage has a valued and inclusive role within all communities in the city. Working together will help us to celebrate and come into contact with the full breadth of our cultural heritage.
Each year the Lakeside Arts Centre plays host to Chinese New Year celebrations and in 2014, for the first time, a Diwali Celebration, supporting and celebrating the cultural heritage and traditions of Nottingham as a multi-cultural city.
11 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 03 - Working Together
mechanisms for collaborative cross- including the Victorian Society, the sector working, as channels for pooling Georgian Group and the Society for the resources and attracting external funding. Protection of Ancient Buildings.
The Creative Quarter Company The visitor economy is a key priority is developing a place-leadership for D2N2, the Nottinghamshire role in the city. It provides support and Derbyshire Local Enterprise and funding for new and existing Partnership, and the region’s world- businesses to regenerate and class heritage of innovation is a key revive the city’s Creative Quarter, investment theme. a historic area which includes the Lace Market, Sneinton Market International, national and regional and Hockley. partners, such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Arts Council England, are National & Regional Partners key sources of funding and expertise. They are able to help initiate heritage-led Nottingham has developed strong regeneration of all scales, promote good relationships with local authorities in the management of the historic environment East Midlands, participating in working and support communities in participating groups and joining together to benefit in, and profiting from, their past. from shared skills and resources. One example of these working relationships is New working relationships, which can the Derby Nottingham Museums Trust, respond to emerging opportunities, formed in 2011. The consortium has need to be brokered. The City Council Third Sector been instrumental in securing funding for is committed to helping forge new a range of heritage projects. Derby and relationships, bringing partners together Charities and voluntary organisations Leicester have set strong precedents for and putting mechanisms in place to already actively promote and celebrate heritage-led regeneration, and Nottingham secure a sustainable and exciting future Nottingham’s heritage, often offering must continue to play its part in raising the for Nottingham’s heritage. a chance to experience the historic profile of the region’s heritage. environment from different perspectives. Two of the city’s most popular Experience Nottinghamshire is a The city receives valuable consultation heritage attractions, the ‘City destination marketing organisation and expert input from Historic England, of Caves’ and the Galleries of tasked with promoting and improving with whom it has shared responsibilities Justice, are part of the Egalitarian leisure and business tourism in the city. in managing Nottingham’s historic Trust, an organisation founded to Its independent status and close links environment. Consultation and advice is at raise public understanding and with the city’s communities provide hand from a variety of expert organisations, awareness of heritage and law.
12 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 03 - The City Council
of collective working, providing a The City Council covenant between the diverse range of providers that defines for all how their Nottingham City Council has a central role in Nottingham’s heritage. Working with the various ambitions can be achieved city’s communities, it has responsibility for: A collaboration of Nottingham City Council, the Partnership Council, n Providing a range of public heritage services (e.g. museums, libraries and parks) Castle Cavendish Foundation and n Managing an extensive portfolio of publicly owned historic assets Friends of the Forest, secured £5.2m to restore the Victorian n Leading the way in delivering long-term sustainable development and regeneration Forest Recreation Ground, home of the Goose Fair, to its former n Promoting the city’s cultural offer glory. Funding was sourced from n Protecting and enhancing the historic environment through sustainable planning the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Big Lottery Fund, Nottingham City n Providing and sourcing grant-aid for projects and organisations Council, the Castle Cavendish Foundation Fund and local n Offering expertise and advice to facilitate heritage initiatives in the city developer contributions. n Encouraging and supporting heritage projects Council officers have experience and n Securing long term sustainable uses for the city’s heritage assets expertise in sourcing funding and undertaking heritage-led projects of all types and sizes. The council directly funds and participates in a wide The City Council has heritage expertise across a number of directorates including variety of working groups aimed at the Parks and Gardens, Planning, and Museums and Leisure Services. Working enhancing and promoting Nottingham’s in partnership with other services, such as Education, Events, Regeneration and cultural heritage. This understanding Housing, and alongside other stakeholders in the city, the council is committed to can stimulate other projects and help making heritage a core part of how it delivers its services. Individual Service Plans, ensure that potential opportunities for such as the Nottingham City Council Museums & Galleries Service Strategic Plan enhancing, promoting and sustaining the 2014 – 2018, set out the council’s priorities in detail. The council also has an important city’s heritage are realised. role in bringing stakeholders together. The Nottingham Arts Framework is an example
13 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 03 - A Joined Up Approach
A Joined Up Approach
Nottingham’s Heritage Strategy is part of n Historic Environment policies consider Together the documents provide the a group of guidance documents that are designated and non-designated framework through which this strategy inspiring how the city changes over the heritage assets, archaeology and the can be achieved. The List of Potential next 20-30 years. Not only will it help to city’s caves, and emphasise the value Heritage Projects identifies where the maintain and enhance the city’s heritage, of our social and cultural heritage city’s historic environment can closely but it will also support and help deliver integrate with plans and policies, and help many other strategic objectives. n Regeneration policies promote the successfully deliver Nottingham’s visions to sustainable development and re-use transform its neighbourhoods and develop The National Planning Policy Framework of the city’s building and infrastructure, its international standing for science and stresses the important social and focusing on historic areas such as the innovation, sports and culture. economic roles that the historic Waterside and Castle Quarters environment has to play in sustainable A Heritage Lottery Fund development. It sets out the need for n Design policies promote contextual Townscape Heritage scheme change that retains and enhances the development that responds to is currently being developed significance of heritage assets and inherited character for Carrington Street, the city’s their settings. Policies state that new southern gateway. This grant n Environmental policies consider the development should respond to and role of Nottingham’s open spaces, scheme will fund traditional reflect local character by promoting local including its historic parks and repairs to historic buildings and distinctiveness, addressing connections gardens the reinstatement of lost original between people and places, and features. Regeneration of this integrating with the historic environment. This strategy integrates with, and is area is a key objective defined supported by, a number of other key in Nottingham’s Local Plan and Nottingham’s Local Plan sets out how guidance documents and plans to the Time and Place Plan, just one the vision for the city, defined in the ensure that the full potential of the example of the central role that Sustainable Community Strategy, is historic environment is harnessed. Those heritage has in creating a future to be achieved through growth and that influence and address the historic for the city. development. Heritage has a central role environment of the city most specifically in the Plan, and the aims and objectives are included on the following page. of this strategy support the delivery of heritage specific policies, as well as those concerning other issues such as design, housing and the environment:
14 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 03 - A Joined Up Approach
The Nottingham City Centre Urban Design Guide is rooted in a careful analysis of the city centre and the characteristics that make it work and make it special. It considers the evolution of the modern cityscape and sets out guidance for its repair, reinvention and regeneration according to six key elements of urban design: Urban Form, Public Realm, Massing, Activity, Sustainability and Design. Key features of the city’s heritage are considered including views, materials, landmark buildings and frontage activity.
The Time and Place Plan seeks to use the existing rhythm and grain of the city, enhancing its character with better management and selective elements of change. The city centre’s historic buildings and inherited character will be enhanced, encouraging uses that improve the way areas are experienced and used. Development that celebrates and responds to its context is promoted. The overall result will be a more vibrant, attractive and viable series of city centre quarters.
The Streetscape Design Manual sets out how the city can achieve high quality streets and urban spaces. Key principles include basing design on an understanding of the inherited character of streets and spaces alongside their cultural associations. The guide advocates the re-use of locally distinctive materials, the consideration of relationships between buildings and streets, and street furniture that complements the cityscape. The guide stipulates the repair and retention of historic street furniture throughout its working life.
The Nottingham Growth Plan seeks to grow and diversify the city and reconnect it with its historical roots. A key action is to establish a ‘Made in Nottingham’ brand, building on the city’s history of manufacturing success. Regeneration and refurbishment of historic buildings and areas, such as the Southern Gateway, Waterside and Boots Campus, is a core part of delivering both a diverse and quality commercial offer and an infrastructure for the future.
Retail Nottingham seeks to strengthen the city’s retail offer, improve the experience of visitors and develop the physical environment as an attractive place to shop. The strength of a joined up approach between leisure and retail is recognised and key actions include improving the use of public spaces and providing a more consolidated tourist offer, encouraging shoppers to stay for longer. The strategy recognises the value of small retail units and independent retailers, often well housed in historic buildings. It seeks to improve and regenerate retail leisure hotspots throughout the city centre.
Breathing Space aims to revitalise Nottingham’s open spaces, including its historic parks as well as smaller informal green spaces. The strategy seeks to protect the valued contribution open spaces make to the city’s sense of place. It emphasises involving communities in how green spaces develop and are maintained. Area based recommendations are targeted around many heritage assets including St. Anne’s Allotments, Forest Recreation Ground, Highfields Park, Victoria Embankment, Green’s Windmill and the Arboretum.
15 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 03 - Information and Evidence
Information & Evidence The information we hold about our city’s architectural style and layout. In addition ‘Picture the Past’ conserves and heritage influences our ability to manage to national designations the City Council, makes publicly accessible the and promote it. Heritage information in partnership with the Civic Society, photographic heritage held by the has a wide number of applications. It is developing a Local List of buildings North East Midland Photographic is a statutory evidence base used to valued by local people. Record. The project is a partnership inform planning applications and some of local councils and was funded by of the city’s most valuable assets. The The Nottinghamshire Buildings the Heritage Lottery Fund. information we hold about our past at Risk project has identified 81 feeds into education and research, and Listed Buildings in the city that are Open Spaces is an important resource to local people at risk. The survey data, gathered investigating their heritage. What we by the County Council, is helping Nine of the city’s open spaces are know about the city’s heritage reveals set priorities and better manage Registered Parks and Gardens, four how Nottingham can be promoted as a the city’s historic building stock. of which are Grade II* registered. cultural destination. Nottingham has busy and vibrant Archaeology waterways, the Nottingham & Beeston Much of the city’s heritage is of national Canal and the River Trent, that flow importance. A range of designations The Historic Environment Record is an through the heart of the city. More than protects some of the most unique historic up to date record of the city’s buried 120 open spaces of local importance assets, and research agendas identify heritage. More than 1400 entries are defined in the city’s Open Space gaps in our understanding. Together record our understanding of the city’s Network, and the City Council alone these form an important part of the archaeology. Ten archaeological sites, is responsible for more than 100,000 research and management frameworks including a number of its cave systems, individual trees, along with more than for Nottingham’s historic environment. It are protected as Scheduled Ancient 100 hectares of woodland. is essential that we maintain and expand Monuments. Elsewhere, more than 50 our understanding of the city’s past, Archaeological Constraint Areas demark seeking out new sources of information parts of the city that may have significant and improving the evidence base for archaeological remains. Accessibility managing our heritage. Cultural History Information is only useful if it is Built Fabric accessible. Partnerships around A wealth of information about the city are committed to making From the Elizabethan Wollaton Hall to Nottingham and its inhabitants is held it more available than ever. These the Nottingham Playhouse, built in 1964, within the rich collections of its many include traditional methods of the city includes nine Grade I, 34 Grade museums, archives, attractions and interpretation alongside online II* and 750 Grade II Listed Buildings. libraries. Photographs, books, historic resources such as the new 31 areas of the cityscape, such as The maps, oral histories, registers and Nottingham Caves Mobile App Park and Wilford Village, are designated directories all provide valuable insight and the East Midlands Oral Conservation Areas, protected for into the city’s past, helping to put names History Archive. their historic importance, distinctive and faces to the city’s past.
16 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 04 – A Forward Looking Framework
04 Nottingham’s Heritage Strategy A forward looking framework
The strategy has three core aims which, together, will help people value and enjoy everything that Nottingham’s past has to offer. When combined, the three aims will help achieve a simple but aspirational vision for the city.
The strategy requires a commitment AIMS: from everyone in the city and the List of Potential Heritage Projects identifies VISION: 1. Understand the contribution that groups and organisations who have historic environment makes to the city already expressed an interest in 2. Capitalise on the existing and A vibrant, valued taking ideas forward. Delivery of the potential roles that heritage brings to strategy will be the responsibility of city life and widely-known a new dedicated Heritage Panel that 3. Celebrate the city’s rich past, represents interests across the city, with heritage which promoting Nottingham as distinctive its day-to-day management undertaken place to live and visit delivers long term by the City Council. These three aims form the foundations The aims and objectives of this strategy benefits to the for a series of objectives that will help are aspirational, yet can be attained secure a sustainable future for the city’s people, economy and surpassed. The benefits will be heritage. A List of Potential Heritage felt across the city - in retail, tourism, Projects, developed in consultation with and environment business, communities, education and stakeholders across the city, sets out in the environment, not just today, but of the City of ways by which these objectives can be for future generations who will be able to achieved over the course of the strategy. take pride in being part of a distinctive, Nottingham. More ideas should come forward as historic and exciting Nottingham. Nottingham develops, building on this initial framework.
The Nottingham Heritage Strategy is a 15 year vision for the city`s historic environment. It sets out a common framework that all partners and stakeholders in the city can use to ensure that heritage continues to play an active role in community life and has an inspirational role in how Nottingham develops.
17 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 04 – Aim 1: Understanding
AIM 1: Understanding
Nottingham’s heritage is diverse. It enjoy and value their heritage, must be Heritage continues to adapt and is apparent within the street scenes, the driving force behind its role in the change, responding to the needs of social history and sense of place. How growth and development of Nottingham. a modern city. Understanding the we understand and manage heritage stakeholders’ ambitions is key to has moved on from drawing red lines The Nottingham Caves Survey securing a sustainable future for our around designated buildings and is the first part of the two-and- historic environment. Its stewardship monuments, and has become more a-half year funded programme must be evidence-led, with a strategic encompassing. To manage it effectively involving the Greater Nottingham approach underpinned by a thorough we now need to understand its Partnership, East Midlands understanding of its condition and the significance in terms of the contribution Development Agency, English challenges it faces. it makes to a place’s community, Heritage, the University of economy and environment. Nottingham and Nottingham City Council. The project will help The city is a major destination with a people to appreciate the caves multi-cultural demographic. Visitors for the unique historical resource and residents perceive and experience they are. All accessible will be heritage in different ways. As both surveyed with a 3D laser scanner, proprietors and beneficiaries of the producing a 3D measured record city’s historic environment, communities of the caves that can be viewed have a defining role in the future. An and examined in great detail. understanding of how people relate to,
18 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 04 – Aim 1: Understanding
Objective A: Broaden our Nottingham’s social history. It is also operative solutions. A programme of vital to understand where heritage outreach should be undertaken to raise understanding of the city’s is and is not contributing to city life, understanding of potential avenues of historic environment including how it is valued by the city’s funding and encourage the sharing of many communities. good practice. We need to develop and improve the information we use to manage and Results should be compared against promote Nottingham’s heritage. The other information about the city’s evidence base must be comprehensive environment, economy and demographic Outcomes: in scope, identifying risks and to inform a strategic approach to opportunities for future management modelling risk and identifying future n A thorough and growing to engage with. It must also consider challenges and opportunities. understanding of the city’s heritage the social and community aspects of n heritage to make information more Objective C: Understand An understanding of the inherited accessible and more widely used. character and evolution of the city the needs, challenges and opportunities faced by all n A fit-for-purpose evidence base Key Actions: about the condition, value and groups with a stake in the significance of heritage We need a thorough review of the city’s heritage information available that brings resources n Highly accessible information together and highlights areas where A shared understanding of the city’s about the city’s heritage, available we can improve our understanding of heritage must be developed from all in both traditional and heritage. Key areas of work include perspectives. Issues and opportunities technologically pioneering ways a characterisation study of the city, faced by those at the coalface need to extending the archaeological record be highlighted, encouraging an informed n A thorough understanding of the beyond the city centre and a greater and collaborative approach. Good contributions heritage makes to understanding of the city’s social history. practice, expertise and experience must city life be pooled to the advantage of everyone n A rolling programme of projects to make with a stake in the city’s heritage. A localised level of knowledge information more accessible is needed, about how heritage is valued taking advantage of new technologies among the city’s and building on existing initiatives Key Actions: demographic by partners across the city. These A programme of consultation include the Nottingham Caves Survey, n A shared understanding of the should bring together businesses, Bromley House Library cataloguing and issues and opportunities presented organisations, communities and other conservation initiatives, the Theatre by the historic environment groups to consider heritage issues and Royal archive project and the Malt Cross opportunities. Results should inform a archive. review to identify potential opportunities for working in partnership and co- Objective B: Understand the role of heritage in city life We need to identify the current and potential contributions that heritage does and can make to the city’s economy, environment and social fabric. Every aspect of its contribution needs to be explored, developing the required level of understanding to manage and promote it effectively.
Key Actions:
A series of studies should qualify the actual and potential contribution that heritage makes to city life, including retail, social well-being, economy, and tourism. This will need to evaluate the contribution of heritage to the city’s identity and brand, in particular the significance of historical figures and the insights they can provide into
19 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 04 – Aim 2: Capitalisisng
Key Actions: Undertake a regular review of external funding pots and ensure potential AIM 2: Capitalising avenues for attracting cash into the city are well publicised among stakeholders. This study should be carried out Nottingham’s rich heritage is buildings along Bridlesmith Gate now alongside a review of the city’s strategic composed of people, stories, spaces play host to designer shops, the retail priorities to help identify candidate and buildings that have stood the values of which are among the highest projects. Create and promote the test of time and continue to provide in the city. infrastructure to encourage and support long-term environmental, social and heritage projects of all scales throughout economic benefits. The value of the Objective A: Care for the city. Projects that can tackle historic environment is appreciating, immediate issues should be prioritised. with heritage able to lever substantial and improve our historic amounts of investment into the city. environment, using it to Nottingham must continue to initiate attract investment Objective B: Integrate the and grasp more opportunities as they city’s heritage in strategic present themselves, using heritage as a Much of the city’s heritage is well cared planning force for regeneration. for by a steady flow of investment. Current and future issues need to The historic environment needs to be Over the next decade Nottingham be tackled through constructive seamlessly integrated with plans for the Castle will lead the way with a conservation and heritage-led city. Heritage has a central role to play £24m project that will showcase regeneration. With the right support and in achieving strategic objectives. Plans 1000 years of heritage, raising forward planning the benefits of existing to improve and regenerate areas of the awareness of the city’s history of investment can be amplified using city must be formed around their existing protest, rebellion and democracy sources of funding to the advantage of historic character, capitalising on the as well as its creative heritage. everyone in the city. benefits and opportunities presented by our heritage. Nottingham’s heritage requires a commitment of care. Issues must be addressed directly and heritage assets have an active part to play in how the city develops. Skills and resources need to be in place to ensure heritage potential is released. The quality of Nottingham’s heritage demands change that respects and reveals its character and significance. To this end short term gains must be weighed against the established long-term benefits that only long-serving elements of the city’s character can deliver.
As the city evolves, historic assets can fall out of use. Investment can both release and benefit from their untapped potential, bringing heritage back into play and re-vitalising buildings, areas, and the city as a whole. Small and medium businesses, which often locate within historic buildings, have a crucial role to play. As such, economic stability is essential to sustaining the city’s heritage. The city must take a pragmatic approach to investment and regeneration, ensuring it makes full use of heritage potential.
Historic buildings provide opportunities for creative and innovative uses in the city centre. In the Lace Market, warehouses and factories have been repurposed as college buildings and restaurants. Georgian and Victorian
20 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 04 – Aim 2: Capitalisisng
Key Actions: Ensure the heritage agenda is integrated into all stages of producing Local Plan policies. Supplementary Planning Documents, Masterplans and guidance should be prepared to clarify the historic environment’s role in growth and development. This should include a review of key site allocations within the Nottingham City Land and Planning Policies document to raise awareness and profile of key heritage opportunities and issues, alongside the consideration of the role of heritage in area based plans across the city such as the Southern Gateway.
Objective C: Develop mechanisms and guidance to manage the city’s heritage A detailed review of the city’s heritage management approach is required to understand its scope, condition and effectiveness. Results should help such as Community Interest Companies, to raise awareness of heritage issues ensure that the city is able to deliver a much of what is required can be drawn and increase skills to tackle them. sustainable future for its heritage. New together from existing sources. Sharing Encourage and support groups and tools and frameworks, such as place experience, good practice and success networks that can bring together skills reviews, will be required to ensure the will help generate positive momentum and expertise to the benefit of the successful delivery of this strategy and across the city. historic environment. Develop stronger these will need to be formally adopted lines of communication between all and promoted. services and organisations that have an Key Actions: interest in the city’s heritage. Key Actions: Develop and undertake a programme of training (e.g. CPD) and outreach Conduct detailed reviews of existing management systems including Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans, Asset Management Outcomes: Plans, the Local List maintained by the Civic Society, and Archaeological n A well-resourced historic environment that uses internal funding, skills and Constraint Areas. Develop a range of experience to attract investment tools to respond to new evidence and to monitor the delivery of this strategy, such n Heritage that is valued and cared for, and has a central role in the city’s economy as the Buildings at Risk survey. Develop and culture guidance and tools to tackle common n A robust and clear strategic policy framework that secures a sustainable future challenges faced by key partners. Take for heritage steps to ensure that guidance and supporting information is accessible and n Plans that embrace the value of heritage in setting out a future for the city well signposted. n Place-leadership that engages with heritage issues and opportunities at Objective D: Develop the early stages necessary resources, n Information and guidance about the historic environment that is easily accessed expertise and skills n The ability to monitor the condition of the city’s heritage as it develops The city heritage depends on people with the necessary skills and expertise, n A well-resourced and connected expert community of professionals and alongside the appropriate resources, to volunteers that brings together skills and expertise to the benefit of the city’s overcome issues and take advantage of historic environment opportunities. Using the right structures,
21 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 04 – Aim 3: Celebrating
Key Actions: Improve navigability of the historic city through improvements to the city’s public AIM 3: Celebrating realm. Identify opportunities to reconnect and reinvigorate historic elements of the public realm, including Malin Hill and the People are passionate about Objective A: Improve journey from the Castle to the cliff. Review Nottingham’s heritage and intrigued existing guidance, including the Urban by over 1500 years of triumph, trial physical connections with Design Guide, to encourage development and conflict. Communities must be the city’s heritage that retains and enhances key historic able to participate in and celebrate elements across the whole city. Take their heritage. Stronger connections Nottingham’s cityscape should steps to ensure that heritage is part of between people and the places in the encourage full exploration of its cultural the development and delivery of the city’s city need to be encouraged, raising heritage. Key buildings, services, highway and transport strategies. Develop awareness and increasing the valuable attractions and areas should be well and promote connective infrastructure, relationship we have with our past. signposted and easily accessible. Where possible, greater public access including footpaths and cycleways, Nottingham’s historic environment, to currently restricted parts of the city’s throughout the city. including its open spaces, buildings and heritage needs to be achieved. The cultural venues, is increasingly used as public realm should promote access, Objective B: Establish better a spectacular stage for events. Heritage re-establishing and highlighting historic intellectual connections is often the unique selling point behind connections and revealing significance an event, offering prestige and a unique through new development. with the city’s heritage experience. There is opportunity to Recent work on Maid Marian Information about the city’s past needs to broaden Nottingham’s cultural offer be accessible to everyone with an interest through promoting a diverse and innovative Way provides an example of how a damaged historic street in it. New media and technology can programme of events in historic locations, provide ways to explore once inaccessible pattern, joining the Castle with expanding how it is experienced and parts of the city’s heritage, not least its the city centre, can be improved. invigorating undervalued areas of the city. unique system of caves. The city must The scheme kick-started a lead the way in developing methods that Heritage can be hard to get in touch with: positive change to Nottingham’s bring heritage to new, wider audiences caves and archaeology have their own public image. Tackling the worst physical barriers to access; social history while also continuing to use traditional aspects of Maid Marian Way methods of access and interpretation. exists mainly within the memory and was an essential component in legends. Opportunities to promote and reconnecting the fabric of the city make the city’s heritage more accessible (Commission for Architecture and must be developed, helping people enjoy the Built Environment). the full breadth of the city’s offer.
22 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 04 – Aim 3: Celebrating
Key Actions: must be turned to the advantage of confidence in capitalising on the historic the city’s heritage, and all those with a environment. Heritage must be known Create a digital media strategy for heritage stake in heritage should be encouraged as an indispensable element of city life, that evaluates existing and potential to open their doors to achieve greater bringing real benefits to communities, levels of heritage information provision. public enjoyment and participation. businesses and visitors. This should also identify links between sources of information, helping to provide an increasingly joined up experience. As Key Actions: Key Actions: a priority, information that promotes the Review the full breadth of the city’s Prepare a full audit of the different sustainable management of the city’s historic environment for potential event elements of the city’s cultural heritage heritage must be made available. space and promote the contribution including key figures, assets and heritage assets can make to attractions. Conduct market research Objective C: Engage people Nottingham’s cultural offer. Raise the into perceptions of Nottingham’s historic about the city’s heritage profile of underused elements of the environment and use the results to city’s heritage, such as archaeology and identify opportunities to raise the profile The nature, value and benefit of the social history. Seek out the necessary of the city’s heritage offer. Capitalise on city’s historic environment should be permissions (e.g. licensing and access existing marketing avenues to promote clearly understood. Everyone in the to privately held assets) and put in place the city’s heritage, especially for undersold city should be involved in the future of the necessary infrastructure (e.g. electric and undervalued heritage attractions. The Nottingham’s heritage, able to participate points) for heritage venues to have an successes of heritage-led regeneration in and enjoy the past. As such, local increasingly active and diverse role in city and heritage projects across the city expressions of heritage by communities life. Encourage opportunities for a more must be publicised, setting precedent should be encouraged and supported. integrated heritage offer across the city, and raising awareness of the beneficial This requires a pro-active approach, led such as through joint ticketing. Encourage economic, cultural and environmental by groups and organisations actively heritage to be part of celebrations in roles of the historic environment. working within the city’s communities. the city, integrating with existing and Local community groups, the City future public events. Develop a new Council, schools and local organisations, programme of events purposely designed have a central role in promoting heritage. to showcase the city’s heritage. Outcomes: n A well-connected navigable Nottingham’s rejuvenated Market Key Actions: cityscape that encourages full Square sits in the heart of the city. exploration of the city’s heritage Support and expand the existing In Norman times it was divided in n A transport infrastructure that programme of heritage events in the city. two by a boundary between the actively connects people with Promote an educational role for the city’s English and French boroughs. Nottingham’s historic fabric heritage by supporting and enabling Today it plays host to a variety n visits, research and outreach. Inspire and of cultural events, including the A collective approach to the drive forward community-led initiatives Christmas Market, civic occasions interpretation and sharing of in the city through guidance and and fayres. Its remodelling in information about the city’s historic environment information. Celebrate heritage openly 2007 is widely recognised as through an annual awards scheme that making a significant heritage- n An active cityscape that recognises good practice and civic led contribution to the wider encourages people to investigate pride. A media strategy for the city’s regeneration of the city. Nottingham’s heritage heritage should be developed. n Empowered communities, Objective E: Promote the passionate about and able to Objective D: Broaden participate in the heritage of their city’s heritage as a core the appeal of heritage, local areas and the wider city part of its cultural offer n A valued and cherished historic diversifying how it is environment, celebrated by all experienced Nottingham is planning to be an even communities in the city greater cultural destination. With n A vibrant educational and artistic research and marketing, heritage can be People often come into contact with offer, promoted and experienced harnessed to promote the city at national heritage by proxy. It is the backdrop through the city’s cultural venues to our everyday lives and often at the and international levels. We need to be n An active role for the historic centre of an occasion or event. The clear about how we intend to market the environment that contributes to city’s heritage has a broader, untapped city, and what contribution our cultural both day-to-day living and major offer that can be brought into play by heritage can make in attracting people events diversifying the way it is experienced. to Nottingham and encouraging them n The provision of simple infrastructure to explore more once they get here. A vibrant and attractive cultural and permissions can help reinvigorate Greater awareness of the inspirational heritage offer that is well the city’s historic environment. roles heritage has to play is needed, integrated with how the city Entrepreneurial skills inherent to the city helping to trigger projects and increase promotes itself
23 NottinghamHistoric Nottingham Heritage - Strategy A strategy 04 to – stimulateGovernance the city’s heritage
Governance & Delivery
This strategy provides a foundation A Heritage Lead Resourcing the Strategy for the future management and development of Nottingham’s heritage. Delivery of the heritage strategy will Nottingham has shown itself to be It is a document for the entire city, be supported by a dedicated post capable of attracting substantial involving partners from the public, responsible for convening the panel, amounts of external funding into the private and charitable sectors, and marshalling resources, and taking a lead city. To continue to do this organisations all communities in the city. Aims, on projects where necessary. Based at across the city must continue to pool objectives and actions should be the City Council, the post will provide their resources, using their combined undertaken collaboratively, and the a hub around which partners from the manpower, finances and experience. necessary infrastructure must be put in public, private and voluntary sectors Existing sources of funding should place to motivate, enable and monitor can coalesce. A key responsibility will continue to be petitioned, with new the delivery of the strategy. be identifying funding opportunities and applicants assisted by those with disseminating these through the Heritage experience of the process. A range of new bodies will be created Partnership. to oversee and support Nottingham’s Alternative avenues of funding, such Heritage Strategy: A Heritage Partnership as Tax Increment Financing, central government schemes and developer- A Heritage Panel A new Heritage Partnership, capable funded contributions, should be of pooling resources, expertise and investigated and promoted by the A panel of stakeholders will have overall experience from across the city, will Heritage Panel. Alternative structures responsibility for steering the strategy, be created. Based on the strategy’s for delivering heritage services will be drawing in capacity, skills and resources. three key aims, the partnership will be considered, enabling heritage assets The panel will promote heritage within organised into a series of forums that are to be managed more autonomously related sectors, helping to drive the able to advise and support organisations and commercially where there are clear implementation of yearly Action Plans. wishing to undertake heritage projects. beneficial outcomes. Key responsibilities will include: Members will be listed in a Heritage Directory, a web and email based This strategy helps in providing a n Oversight of the delivery of strategic tool structured according to areas of framework for attracting resources, aims and objectives, promoting them expertise and interest. showing how heritage projects will bring in the city wide-ranging benefits to the city. The When new funding streams come online same is true of other investments made n Acting as an advocate and champion or momentum builds within the city, there into the city, and it will be important for Nottingham’s heritage and the will be windows of opportunity to deliver to show how the historic environment roles it can have in the sustainable strategic actions. A regular newsletter, benefits from other ‘non heritage-led’ development of the city circulated to the Heritage Partnership initiatives and projects. Drawing strong links between heritage and the city’s n Advising and helping to co-ordinate and beyond, will help ensure those with heritage and heritage-related initiatives an interest in delivering heritage projects economy, environment and society are well informed and able to respond. will broaden the resources available to n Celebrating the city’s heritage by deliver this strategy, helping to secure a recognising and promoting good Buildings Preservation Trust better and more sustainable future for practice Nottingham’s heritage. The potential for a new Buildings The panel will have an active role in the Preservation trust will be explored. The delivery of the strategy, convening to Trust will be a key delivery mechanism reward good practice and consulting for many projects concerning the built on major projects that involve the environment, and an initial series of city’s heritage. The shared expertise projects will target buildings at risk. The of members should inform projects Trust will also have an important role in at all stages, from concept, through helping communities across the city to procurement, to completion. manage their historic buildings and find sustainable uses for them.
24 Nottingham Heritage Strategy 04 – Governance
Managing the Strategy provide useful models for mobilising n Cultural attractions including theatres, local partners in achieving common museums, galleries and other venues, Nottingham City Council is responsible objectives, including those about the which are the stages and conduits for the day-to-day management of the historic environment. The City Council that bring the city’s heritage to life heritage strategy and takes the lead on will also play its part, actively supporting reporting progress to the Heritage Panel. and intervening where required, using its Measuring Success The city’s strategic plans and the council’s statutory powers to prompt actions and statutory responsibilities form an important attract investment. These will include the A key part of delivering the heritage springboard and pathway through which development and application of planning strategy will be understanding and heritage projects can be delivered. policies, the enforcement of Urgent measuring its achievements. Nottingham Works Notices and the implementation City Council will undertake intelligence Recognising this, the council will review of Section 215 notices, which enable a gathering and benchmarking, reporting its own services and ensure they are best local planning authority to require land on progress to the Heritage Panel. structured and resourced to implement to be cleaned up when its condition Intended project outcomes will be the new strategy. In-house skills and adversely affects the amenity of the area. defined in advance and used to expertise will continue to be used to bring understand how strategic objectives partners together, attract external funding Key organisations and groups that can are being delivered. Overall progress on and support heritage initiatives of all help bring forward the strategy include: the objectives of the Heritage Strategy scales. The council will continue to play a will be reviewed in a short published n Experience Nottinghamshire lead role in major funding applications for public report on a yearly basis. This will celebrates and promotes the city’s large public projects, bringing investment enable all partners to see how projects cultural offer, encouraging visitors, from key regional and national bodies have been delivered, and allow areas of shoppers and investors to engage such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and shortfall to be prioritised. with the historic environment Historic England. n The Invest in Nottingham Club Implementing the Strategy and the Nottingham Business Improvement District are forums Key Actions: Aims and objectives will be achieved for reaching out to potential n Establish a Heritage Panel to steer incrementally over the duration of investors, developers, and local the delivery of the strategy the strategy. Heritage already plays businesses n Set up a new Heritage Partnership a significant role in the life of the city, n Produce an annual progress report n The Civic Society and community-led and the initial driving force will come and regular newsletter from those groups and organisations organisation, caring about heritage n Review and align the City Council’s already engaged in the city’s historic and dedicated to helping make the services to help fulfil this strategy environment. This momentum must city a better place to live n Promote the heritage strategy be harnessed and promoted through n The Nottingham Open and Green among stakeholders, triggering and established networks to involve everyone Space Forum will act as key supporting its delivery with a stake in the city’s past and future. advocate and consultative committee n Define the proposed outcomes of regarding the restoration and Activity groups, such as the Creative projects and develop frameworks to improvement to the city’s historic Quarter Company and the Derby manage and monitor their delivery parks and green spaces Road Regeneration Steering Group, n Create and build on established networks that bring together stakeholders to drive the strategy forward n Create a new dedicated post to help develop partnerships and deliver actions
Timetable The strategy will be delivered over a 15 year timescale. Action Plans, defined by the Heritage Panel in conjunction with partners, will be set out on an annual basis. As a rolling programme, the Heritage Strategy will be promoted and monitored by the Heritage Panel, ensuring that opportunities can be taken advantage of and projects prioritised according to the needs of the city and the resources available.
25 www.locusconsulting.co.uk Nottingham City Council contact [email protected]