Borough is changing forever with new park, jobs and thousands of homes in the pipeline

ONE of Nottinghamshire's western boroughs is headed for an economic and cultural boost with various projects that could revamp the area.

- By LAUREN MONAGHAN Local democracy reporter

The entrance to the progressing Raleigh site off Church Street The Brinsley Headstocks site

Broxtowe borough is Nottinghamshire's second-smallest, with a population of 110,900 in the 2021 census, followed by Mansfield district, which has a population of around 110,500.

Though smaller, the area is steeped in rich mining history - namely Brinsley Colliery and Moorgreen Colliery - and is the birthplace of world-renowned writer DH Lawrence. The famous poet's largely-autobiographical novel, Sons and Lovers, refers to a coal mine called Beggarlee, which the historic Brinsley Headstocks stood in for as part of the onscreen retelling of the book in 1960. Lawrence's father, Arthur, and grandfather, Bert, had worked at the Brinsley pit, which closed in 1934.

Hundreds of new people could be drawn into the area through various new housing schemes already in the pipeline or planned.

The borough is also set to benefit from new job opportunities through a chain expansion and a council-backed initiative.

Speaking about the various schemes in the pipeline across the borough, Broxtowe Borough Council's leader Milan Radulovic told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It will look different. Evolution doesn’t stand still just because some people don’t believe in it.

“[The council] tries to be very much proactive, ensuring we don’t compromise the future generation’s survival. We're constantly looking to improve the environment, clean up rivers, that is the only way we are going to protect future generations - we need to get hold of these issues now.”

He added his group, Broxtowe Alliance, “cares deeply about the future because we intend spending the rest of our lives in it”.

Broxtowe is evolving and below are some of the most notable projects currently taking form or being drawn up.