Funding bid submitted as Nottingham Castle Transformation Project finalises plans

The Nottingham Castle Transformation project took a significant step forward this month with the submission of the round two funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). If secured, this funding will play a huge part toward establishing the site as a world-class visitor destination, celebrating its unique and nationally-significant 1,000 year history with tales of power, protest and rebellion across the centuries. It forms a critical part of Nottingham City Council’s plans to develop the city centre. An economic impact assessment has estimated that the project will generate an additional £90m of visitor spend in the local economy over 10 years, will create and sustain over 3,700 additional jobs through visitor spend, and generate a potential total visitor spend of £202m over a 10 year period. The Castle site has 9.5 million people living in a 90 minute drive time catchment as well as potential for increased international tourists visiting the city due to the improved transport infrastructure. The application comprises 21 separate documents, which will be assessed by a panel and information will be reinforced and clarified with a site visit from HLF in a month or so. This project will revitalise Nottingham Castle for visitors and the people of Nottingham, telling the Castle's story and its role in the birth of social and democratic ideas. Celebrating Nottingham Castle’s diverse 1,000 year heritage, it will capture the drama of the Castle site; increasing access to the unique caves and restoring dramatic gallery space providing exceptional exhibitions of the city’s world class collections. The project is focused around three themes:

• Exploring 1,000 years of history: inviting visitors to enjoy the Castle landscape, discover the unique caves, the site and its medieval remains and the charm of the Brewhouse Yard Cottages.
• Rebellion: Focusing on Nottingham's history of dissension, revolt and rebellion and our iconic outlaw, Robin Hood.
• The Power of Art and Making: Highlighting the museum's founding principles and the extraordinary creativity of a city home to craft and industry of various kinds.

A funding decision from the HLF is expected in November this year. Work is anticipated to begin on site in 2017. Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture said “Congratulations to the project team on completing this massive task. I am confident we have created a series of clear, comprehensive and very exciting plans for a project which can potentially bring the site alive, tell the key stories and legends and capture the imagination of many thousands of visitors in the years to come.”