A £6m transformation of a former Victorian hosiery factory in Sneinton is complete, with Dance4 and Confetti Media Group announced as the two major anchor tenants of the new facility, which will support Nottingham’s growing digital and creative industries.
Nottingham has a growing reputation as a home for creative and digital companies, with over 650 new jobs created across the flagship Creative Quarter project since it started. Dance4 and Confetti, both big names in Nottingham’s creative sector, will be the first tenants to move into Space2 once they complete the fit-out of their facilities later in the year.
The £6m Dakeyne Street project was funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Nottingham City Council, undertaken by Wates Construction and delivered via the East Midlands Property Alliance (empa), which aims to improve the procurement and delivery of construction projects and property maintenance for public sector bodies.
The refurbishment is already attracting acclaim, with the project shortlisted for a Heritage Award and Project of the Year award the forthcoming East Midlands Celebrating Construction Awards 2016.
Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration, said: “Digital and creative industries are very important to the city’s continued growth and development. I’m really pleased that as well as providing valuable space to support our creative industries, we have been able to bring back to life a building which has a lot of history and character.
“Space2 is a fitting transformation of a Victorian factory into a space for local start-ups and small businesses to thrive alongside established Nottingham successes such as Dance4 and Confetti.“Space2 will enable both Dance4 and Confetti to involve citizens and students in the city on a much larger scale than ever before.
Dance4 will use its accessible, fit-for-purpose new home to offer specialist support and space for the research, production and distribution of new choreographic work.”
Paul Windle, Regional Business Manager, empa, said: “This is an enormously exciting project transforming a former hosiery factory into a new hub for the creative and digital industries. We’re thrilled that such a significant project has been delivered via empa and that the new building will provide a spectacular base, and a further boost to Nottingham’s creative offering.”
