Articles
The AMP is complete
Date Posted: 3:54 PM on Tue, 11 October 2022The AMP, the £4 million flagship business development in Arnold Town Centre, has officially been completed and handed over to Gedling Borough Council.
The building will be the new home to several new business start-ups as well as the Post Office, who will be the first business to open its doors to the public. New businesses are due to be moving into the units, with terms on their leases being agreed. There will be a wine tasting experience outlet, a cat and dog accessory and treats store, a cake shop and a delicatessen to go alongside the Post Office, which has relocated from nearby Worrall Avenue.
Funding for the project came from Gedling Borough Council’s capital programme budget, boosted by a successful bid for £1.25 million from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund that supports town centre improvements. The project created around 40 new jobs through business employment and through the construction of the new building.
The AMP is an acronym of the famous Arnold Market Place but it can also mean amplification and amphitheatre, as the outdoor square will be a space used for events and entertainment. The name was chosen following consultation with local residents and businesses and after looking at several options, The AMP stood out as the obvious choice for this exciting project.
The building was constructed by developers G F Tomlinson, the company, who previously built the council’s Café 1899 at Gedling Country Park. The design of the building has created a new eastern gateway into Arnold Town Centre thanks to a new public realm space that will be the central focal point for the new shopping area. The building has been designed to use less energy, use more renewable energy and reduce its CO2 emissions. The building has a number of energy efficient designs including 51 solar panels, natural ventilation points, and high efficiency LED lighting.
The 51 solar panels on the roof of the building will help generate an estimated annual yield of 14,924 kWh of power to the units. The building is also fitted with rainwater retention tanks that will be used to reduce flood risks and feed the semi-mature trees that are planted around the public realm to offset carbon emissions, contributing to the council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The project meant that Arnold Town Centre received the most significant investment it has ever had with up to £4 million allocated to the project as part of the council’s plan to revitalise the centre and create a new space that will help boost visitors to the town centre and support local businesses.
Gedling Borough Council purchased the land in 2018 and began work on the building in 2020. The site was the home of Arnold Market for over 50 years and, following an extensive consultation, the stallholders moved to nearby Eagle Square while the works were carried out and, thanks to its success, plans are in place for the traders to stay at the location, subject to consultation with the stall holders. The council's future plans for the new public space will include increasing the use for community events. The council will also be looking at options for specialist markets, including evening and weekend markets.
A small ceremony will take place on Tuesday 11 October to celebrate The AMP being officially handed over to Gedling Borough Council. A time capsule, designed by local school children from Robert Mellors Primary School, will be placed into the ground on the site. The capsule contains letters, photos and other materials, designed by the school children, that are sealed in a water tight container and will be placed deep in the foundations of the building.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said;
“We are incredibly pleased to announce that the AMP building is officially complete and our new tenants will begin moving in to this wonderful new building in the heart of Arnold Town Centre. I would like to thank everyone involved in helping getting this ambitious project over the line, it has taken an colossal amount of work to get this done by Gedling Borough Council staff, G F Tomlinsons and several other partners who all contributed to this project and made it a success.
We made a manifesto pledge that we would revitalise the town centre and this will be the jewel in the crown for Arnold.”
Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne said:
“This new flagship building and public square will bring new business to Arnold and boost the economy for the existing businesses in and around the town centre. This is something that everyone can be proud of, not just in Arnold but also in our surrounding towns and communities.
This investment, one of the largest investments there has ever been in Arnold, has come at a time when the council is still one of the worst affected councils in the country in terms of funding cuts from central government. We are incredibly proud that we have reached this remarkable milestone despite the significant financial pressures the council is under. The AMP is here and we hope residents and businesses will support it and be proud of the things we can achieve together as a community.
We are also committed to revitalising and investing in our other fantastic local town centres and high streets across the borough. We are investing in Carlton Square, have secured a significant amount of funding to make our streets safer in Netherfield and have invested in a dedicated team working to support our small businesses across the borough.'
Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership said:
““D2N2 is delighted to be one of the co-funders of this strategically important town centre regeneration project. Apart from the initial 40 new jobs, this will potentially assist further new investment in the locality”.