Design Nottingham

Fantastic urban design plans for Nottingham

The fashion and design entrepreneur was keynote speaker at the launch of the
Design 09 campaign, which seeks to improve some of Nottingham's derelict eyesores.

The event coincided with the official launch of the city council's first City Centre Urban Design Guide. Both will help in Nottingham's bid to be World Design Capital in 2012.

Speaking at the campaign's launch at the University of Nottingham's Innovation Park on the Jubilee Campus, Mr Hemingway said: "What is being launched is absolutely vital to make developers look and say 'hang on, we've got to start rethinking'.

"What Nottingham has been lucky to avoid to a certain extent over the last few years, is a combination of greed and stupidity on behalf of the public, house builders and councils.

"You have got the opportunity here to do something fantastic. The building blocks are here."

"As Chair of Building For Life, Nottingham's Design Guide is a breath of fresh air. Its clear that great public realm and the liveability that results from this is at the heart of Nottingham's thinking and that can only lead to the city flourishing" .

Nottingham City Council chief executive Jane Todd also addressed the 140 invited guests at the launch.

She said: "Nottingham is very much a beautiful city. It is unique and has a very important and eclectic mix of the ancient and modern."

She also called for investment in the city to continue in spite of the economic downturn.

"Good quality buildings, parks and open spaces are not a luxury just for the times of plenty. They are important at all times and they cannot be dropped when in difficult economic circumstances," she said.

Ken Shuttleworth of Make architects who spoke about CABE's Sustainable Cities website at the event went onto say:

As a CABE Commissioner operating in the East Midlands and an architect with active projects in the region, it is a real pleasure to be working in a city where design is top of the agenda. Nottingham is going from strength to strength and it is a delight to be part of it. The Nottingham Design 09 guide is a unique tool for all those involved in the sustainable development of the city and sets a wonderful example to others. CABE welcome the bold initiative that this document represents."

Design 09 will include a series of events throughout the year such as workshops, reviews of schemes and conferences.

Planners, architects and developers will work in partnership in the initiative, run jointly by the private sector and Nottingham City Council.

To receive a copy of the urban design guide or to find out more visit www.design-nottingham.org

Ends:

For further information on the Urban Design Guide or Design 09 contact Nigel Turpin on 0115 915 55479

Source:www.investinnottingham.com

[back]