Broad Marsh sale approved while a 'slip of the tongue' hints at the buyer

LEADER REVEALS IT WILL BE A PUBLIC BODY

- OLIVER PRIDMORE

THE sale of Nottingham's Broad Marsh site has been approved - and a "slip of the tongue" from the city council leader has revealed that a public sector organisation will be buying it.

Commercial sensitivities mean the proposed buyer has not yet been revealed, but Councillor Neghat Khan said in a meeting yesterday that it will be a public body.

Asked about it afterwards, Councillor Khan said: "I wasn't even allowed to say that, so a slip of the tongue there."

Nottingham City Council took back control of the site in July 2020 after the collapse of Intu, operator of the former Broadmarsh Shopping Centre. Half the centre has already been demolished to make way for the Green Heart park. The council struggled to get funding for the demolition of the other half until the East Midlands mayoral authority stepped in with over £3 million.

The council has now approved the sale of the wider site and money from the buyer is expected to land by the end of the financial year - meaning the deal is set to be finalised in the next 13 days.