The DQF was produced through long term engagement at the former Nottingham Urban Room.

The Urban Room project was abandoned after the Coronavirus Pandemic due to lack of funding.

What is an Urban Room?

"Every town and city should have a physical space where people can go to understand, debate and get involved in the past, present and future of where they live, work and play. The purpose of these urban rooms is to foster meaningful connections between people and place, using creative methods of engagement to encourage active participation in the future of our buildings, streets and neighbourhoods." The Farrell Review (2014)

The history of Nottingham’s Urban Room

At the 2014 National Urban Design Conference, hosted in Nottingham, discussions took place about creating an Urban Room in the city. Contributors to the vision included Historic England, Nottingham City Council, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham and Derby Society of Architects, the Urban Design Group and local architects, surveyors and social enterprises.

The designation of the Nottingham Heritage Action Zone, supported by Historic England, presented the opportunity to turn the vision into reality, and so, in March 2018, Number 38 Carrington Street - Nottingham's Urban Room - opened to the public.

The Urban Room was located in a historic building within a regeneration area that links the railway station with major retail zones. The premises offered a renovated former shop with a ground floor space for exhibitions and events and a basement available to hire for workshops, meetings and events. Nottingham City Council funded the running costs for the period of the Heritage Action Zone project.

The Urban Room was a fundamental vehicle for the delivery of the Co-PLACE programme: a neutral space with an inspirational and creative atmosphere that helped people relax and gave them the confidence to participate in activities, given the friendly and welcoming environment.

In the wake of the 2020 Pandemic Crisis, during the first lock-down, the Urban Room evolved into a virtual platform to continue to serve the community and provide ongoing opportunities for the delivery of Co-PLACE.

Urban Room commitments

Rebalancing representation and promoting equality at all levels within the Urban Room, also including young people.

Reorganising data sharing and communication methods to ensure openness and clarity in decision making and asset management.

Addressing climate change, social inclusion, place democracy and public health through the Urban Room platform.

Securing a platform free of hierarchies where everyone with interest and enthusiasm has equal opportunity to contribute however they can, and are able to grow in a direction they choose.

Monitoring progress against set targets to build up empirical data for potential future funding/growth opportunities.

Planning and monitoring finances, reporting expenditure, income and balances regularly.

Cementing all of the above through a new Urban Room constitution and protocol.

Urban Room priorities

Climate change: there is no planet B; no effort is big enough to address the global crisis our planet is facing. Urban Room Nottingham projects will have a strong focus on sustainability and carbon neutrality: SG7; SG12; SG14; SG15

Social inclusion: places work much better and are far more sustainable when they are equally accessible to people of all abilities and when they are safely enjoyed by all. Urban Room Nottingham projects will be conceived, planned and delivered with inclusion in mind: SG5; SG10; SG13; SG16;

Public health: human life cannot be sustained without air quality, clean water, access to nature, active lifestyles, healthy micro-climates, access to quality food. Urban Room Nottingham projects will always be conceived with an ambition to have a positive impact on health and wellbeing: SG3; SG6; SG14;

Place democracy: places work much better and are far more sustainable when they are for all, by all. Urban Room Nottingham projects will give a voice to all those who wish to have a say, including children and people who might need extra support to participate: SG11; SG17

Economic recovery: we are gradually leaving a global pandemic with huge economic consequences across the globe; our city is no exception. The Urban Room Nottingham is committed to address poverty, economic recovery and access to food and employment through its projects by aiming to work with innovative models that support local/independent businesses: SG8; SG9

Education and skills: placemaking brings huge opportunities to work collaboratively and across sectors applying system-thinking approaches that make projects interesting and rewarding. The Urban Room Nottingham is committed to ensure that everyone involved in every project has something new to learn that is applicable to their jobs, studies or lifestyles: SG4

How the Urban Room worked

The Urban Room Nottingham operated relying entirely on volunteers, with informal and flexible delivery, underpinned by an organised and transparent administration. This approach afforded opportunities for people of all backgrounds to contribute and participate with their different skills sets and diverse interests to help create better places in our city. The key roles involved in running the Urban Room were:

Elected chair: organises and co-ordinates ideas, programmes and activities that deliver our aims and objectives in accordance to our ethos: Dr Laura B Alvarez

Co-opted chair: supports the elected chair: Paul MacMahon

Project administrator: Overseeing financial, legal and contractual affairs Danielle Rowe

Partners: Nottingham City Council; Historic England; Urban Design Group; RIBA; NDSA; University of Nottingham; Nottingham Trent University

Patrons: Nottingham City Council; Urban Design Group