Nottingham’s broken water fountains in Old Market Square look set to be flattened and replaced as part of a wider £3.5 million plan to bring “more nature and life” back to the city centre.

The square is the second-largest civic space in the country, after London’s Trafalgar Square, and is known locally as “Slab Square”.

However, Councillor Neghat Khan, the city’s leader, says she wants to rid the square of its moniker for good and create a vibrant, safe and welcoming space for residents and visitors, with work expected to begin next year.

A consultation with the public is expected to open soon to help inform the plans, which will go hand-in-hand with a vision to become a “Forest City” – inspired by Paris – by 2030.

A new water feature, more trees, seating and better lighting are on the cards under the plan, which is being funded by the Government and the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).

“We are going to have a water feature. We want some greenery. But we want people to tell us what they want,” Cllr Khan said.

“I don’t think [Slab Square] suits us for what we want to do.

“Where the fountains are at the moment, we want to flatten that, look at what the public tells us around greening, use some sort of water feature so it compliments the square.

“If you look back to old pictures there was a lot more greenery and I want to bring that back, because that is important.”

The water fountains have not been functioning since 2022, after water leaked into the electrical control room beneath the square.

Nottingham Labour had pledged to get them working again in the group’s election manifesto in 2023.

Cllr Khan said she hopes a new and permanent solution to the problematic fountains could draw inspiration from the legend of Robin Hood.

“Unfortunately the structure as it is, even if we spend money and fix it, there is no guarantee it won’t break down again,” she said.

“We want to get to the point where we find a permanent solution.

“I think it is safer to have it flat, but I want it to be a place that people come to visit. It has to be a water feature people want to come and see. So what are we going to put there that makes people think ‘Nottingham’?”

Old Market Square looked vastly different before former leader of the council, Jon Collins, pressed ahead with a vision to revamp it in the early 2000s.

The original design by T.C. Howitt, the architect behind the Council House, had featured flower beds, more trees and underground public toilets which had opened in 1947.

The authority launched an international, open competition to redesign the square – with the aim of creating “one of the most impressive public spaces in Europe,” Mr Collins said at the time.

Neil Porter, of internationally-acclaimed landscape architecture practice Gustafson Porter, was chosen to bring this vision to life.

By 2007 the square had been finished, and the iconic water jets became one of the main features of the modernised ‘Slab Square’.

Cllr Khan said she hopes the new plan will tie in with work taking place at the Broad Marsh site, including building on the Green Heart city park.

“It could really show Nottingham as making progress,” she continued.

Most of the money for the plan will be coming from EMCCA and its Labour Mayor, Claire Ward.

“Old Market Square belongs to everyone, so it’s great to see local people helping shape its future,” Ms Ward said.

“This investment will help create a more welcoming centre for Nottingham – somewhere people can meet, relax, and enjoy.

“Bringing trees, plants and water back into the square will celebrate Nottingham’s identity and bring more nature and life to this iconic space.

“Upgrading Old Market Square helps make Nottingham an even better place to live, work and visit. Creating public areas that people can enjoy for years to come is exactly the kind of investment I want to support.”

The council will now appoint design specialists to develop detailed plans for improvements to the Old Market Square, with demolition expected to begin on site in January 2027 after Winter Wonderland has closed.

By Joe Locker (Local Democracy Reporter)