By Matt Jarram, Local Democracy Reporter
Major plans to bring an 18-storey hotel complex to one of Nottingham’s largest development sites have been granted planning permission.
Long-derelict land around Nottingham’s Island Quarter site moved closer to development after councillors approved the scheme on Wednesday, May 18.
Nottingham City Council members met to decide the fate of the application at a planning meeting at Loxley House.
The development, just off London Road, includes a hotel tower of 18 storeys with 223 rooms and a roof terrace.
Cllr Gul Nawaz Khan (Lab) said: “I remember when I came to Sneinton many years ago and it was a Boots factory.
“It is a large and viable site left vacant for three decades. The city residents support the proposal because jobs would be created, and it would be turned into something to make Nottingham look nice. It will look like a real city.”
There would also be a further block up to 10 storeys high with 247 build-to-rent apartments.
This would comprise of 86 two-bed apartments, 154 one-bed apartments and seven studio apartments and a podium roof terrace.
The first floor would contain a residents’ lounge, yoga studio, screening room, kitchen, and library.
There would also be a range of food and drink outlets for use by residents and the public as part of the development, to be named collectively as the ‘Forum’.
This space is also intended to accommodate a food market, which would include dining space, fixed and ‘pop-up’ food and drinks.
A co-working office space also forms part of the development on levels one-four at the base of the hotel providing desk space and meeting rooms.
The second floor of the co-working space would feature an external terrace, overlooking the Hotel Plaza.
Other plans include car and cycle parking, off-site highways improvements to Manvers Street and a new area of public open space.
The application was submitted by AXIS on behalf of Conygar Nottingham Ltd and is located to the north of The Great Northern Close.
Cllr Cate Woodward (Lab) added: “I like it more than I thought I did because it was such a tall monstrosity.”
Cllr Graham Chapman (Lab) had reservations about the crown of the hotel building describing it like it was made to “hoist things from.”
He described it as “an error” in design but “a good development” overall.
Cllr Kevin Clarke (Independent) was more complementary, saying: “It has got a bit of character to it. Some of the developments we have had over the years have been nothing like this.”
Cllr Michael Edwards (Lab), chair of the planning committee, was also positive about the development, calling the building “striking”.
“I am struck by the strength of this,” he added.
Councillors granted planning permission.
The development forms part of larger plans for the up to 36-acre site.
Outline planning permission was granted for “the largescale mixed-use redevelopment of the Island Site” in June 2020.
This also includes plans for an up to 12-storey high purpose-built student accommodation development of 702 rooms.
Planning permission was also granted in November 2020 for “a mixed-use commercial development” that is currently under construction adjacent to the canal, to be named Canal Turn.
It has been described as an “all-day, canal-side destination with restaurants, bars and extensive events space” due to open this year.