Nottingham has undertaken several urban rebranding efforts to change its image and regenerate parts of the city. These include rebranding the Lace Market area near the new tram stop through environmental improvements and attracting new commercial and residential developments. Another project, The Hub, aimed to rebrand the run-down railway station area through a £60 million investment that included refurbishing the station, improving retail, and regenerating surrounding land. A third rebranding involved transforming the old canal district through landscaping and developments like the contemporary art gallery that boosted local business and tourism.

1. Urban rebranding case studies:
Nottingham’s image Nottingham’s Nottingham’s Hub Castle Wharf, Lace Market Scarborough Sport Manchester/
Squares, Old Market and surroundings Nottingham Cape Town
/Trinity/Lace Market
How places re- Success of Why rebranding is Role of players, Role of players, How places reinvent Success of sport and
invent rebranding in urban needed, profile of changing built Changing built themselves/re- leisure
themselves/re- areas. Role of players places in need of, environment environment imaging. Role of
imaging. Why Flagship in city Role of players. (commercial/ (commercial), Using players. Rebranding
sport as a catalyst,
rebranding is centre Change in built residential). Success towns for tourism,
Success of flagship,
needed. Role of environment of flagship/ Rebranding declining
Tourism in history
players. Promoting (commercial, waterfront centres, Sport & coastal resort
city identity residential) Leisure
History of bad OMS – Needed ASB, poor Need for – Station run Old canal area was Nottingham Yorkshire Forward, In the back of urban
image:- binge access (steps), no large down, not good gateway derelict. City Council Contemporary Art Regional Development rebranding booklet
space for events. to city. Meadows high did environmental Gallery (good for and Scarborough
drinking, Stags and City Council did levels of deprivation Borough Council had
do the activities will
hens, “shottingham” improvements Arts/Tourism), opened not do any harm!
international design (profiling), cheap vacant planning weekend. After
(landscaping, paving, 2009, cost £20m, Arts
Attempts to give competition. Gustafson offices to let, low order published “Urban
Porter won with English business. Good
planting) Council & Nottingham Renaissance
positive image:
Heritage agreement. Cost pedestrian count on In 1990s Magistrates City Council, very good Programme” aims:
Science City (given Court, County Archives attendance (100,000
£8m (EU and City) main roads and tram Invest in infra-structure,
status by Gov’t) Success – events, more stop but elsewhere low. and Inland Revenue visitors in first few Reverse decline in built
based on Biocity, people, less ASB, good Bi- Lots of derelict run down (flagship) moved months). Boosted local environment, Attract
University Research, polars, landuse, etc. property (land use there. business – Jamies people with real money
Science Park, etc Trinity – replaced ugly survey, streetview) After Capital 1 (US (Oliver) Restaurant to spend.
(good but not well multi storey and Strategy – “the hub”, bank), bars, offices opened down the road Harbour (2004) £2.8
buildings. Not success, integrate transport, (BT, Evening Post). National Ice Centre/ million in harbour
known) people don’t stay, refurbish station and (seating, larger boats,
Big/Slanty N, Won award from Arena (Sport and
buildings vacant, lacks extend, new car park, tourist info).
introduced 2005 greenery, design better retail. £60 million,
Department for Leisure) opened 2000, Not very successful
criticised, redesign paid for by workplace Environment. £43m Lottery, City environment not bad but
cost £125000. Now
pending parking levy plus others Quiet, calm, sitting Council (used for cheap shops/cafes/
people (Council,
Lace Market – behind (Network rail, East area, accessible (rail, events, concerts, ice amusements dominate
Nottingham Post, new buildings near tram Midlands Trains, tram, bus, motorway), hockey finals, (not going to attract rich
MPs, people) think stop, next to college. Not Nottingham Express good environment. conference facilities, tourists)
not successful well used. Buildings Transit) Later apartment and Bolero Square), new Clean beach (not blue
(except Experience vacant, restaurant has Aim to improve gateway, office developments apartments around flag – top award) Quality
Nottm) closed and re-opened regenerate surrounding (some not finished) but regeneration very Coast Award
several times. area, attract investment, (restrictions on water
Want to return to local (not spread
create jobs (knock on quality, dogs, parking,
Robin Hood! effect in Meadows)
around) facilities and safety)