Huge mural completed as part of city redevelopment

A huge public artwork has been completed in Nottingham as part of a major redevelopment of the city's Broad Marsh area.

The mural covers 150 sq m (1,615 sq ft) on the side of Severn's House in Middle Pavement.

Nottingham-based street artist, Natalie Coe, who spent about four weeks completing the artwork, said it felt "incredible" to create work of such scale in the city centre.

The project was funded by Homes England, a government housing agency, which bought the Broad Marsh site - where it plans to build about 1,000 homes, alongside up to 20,000 sq m (215,000 sq ft) of retail, office and community space - in 2025.

Nottingham charity, City Arts, which produced the mural project alongside public art organisation Art Fest, said Coe's design drew on nature, the area's history, and included ideas from the city's residents about its future.

The work depicts deer, dragonflies and the native Nottingham catchfly plant among bright, colourful patterns.

Coe said: "I just wanted it to uplift people and make them feel pride in the area.

"You know, we've taken something that was very rundown and in need of a bit of love and hopefully people can see that we care about this place, and the themes within the mural as well about change and hope for greener future and community."

She added creating the piece was an "exceptional experience".

Severn's House will become home to a community and research hub for the University of Nottingham, delivered in partnership with Nottingham City Council and Homes England, City Arts said.

Suzannah Bedford, director of City Arts, said: "It's fantastic to see Natalie's mural completed.

"It was important to us that local people had a voice in this commission and in choosing the artist.

"Natalie has taken those ideas and created bold and distinctive public artwork that elevates Nottingham."

Benjamin Kay, the director of Art Fest, added: "It's an artwork you can get completely lost in, discovering something new every time you look."

The wider redevelopment could take up to 10 years, according to Nottingham City Council leader Neghat Khan.

The demolition of the former NCP car park in Maid Marian Way is the most recent change to the Broad Marsh area.

Homes England is expected to appoint a developer for the site next year.

Meanwhile, work to the former Bluecoat sixth form college on the other side of Maid Marian Way is continuing, ahead of its demolition.

Work to demolish the rest of the former shopping centre continues.

Phiroze Mackenzie, the senior development manager for the project at Homes England, said the new artwork had been "well-received" and the project was "on track".

He told the BBC: "Towards the end of this year, early next year, will be the college and the shopping centre frame coming down.

"Towards the middle of next year we'll have a massive developer partner and the plans for the future of the Broad Marsh will start to be developed.

"And there'll be consultations towards the end of next year, with what the initial ideas are to hear, to get feedback and work with the local people."

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