By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
The development of a block of flats next to a Victorian terrace in the Park Estate has been given the green light.
Swish Architecture Ltd, on behalf of Clinton View Ltd, can now part-demolish an office building and build a four-storey block of flats at Clinton Terrace, off Derby Road.
The office building is currently vacant and is attached to a prominent, four storey Victorian terrace designed by the Nottingham architect Thomas Chambers Hine (TC Hine).
TC Hine was responsible for the designs behind the area’s development and, acting on behalf of the fifth Duke of Newcastle, he helped create what first started out as a “quality residential estate” in the early 1850s.
The terrace is today identified as a row of original estate houses within The Park Conservation Area.
Councillors supported the design of the new building, and the council’s conservation officer said it was an improvement on the existing “unsympathetic modernist office building”.
Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis (Lab), who represents Lenton and Wollaton East, said: “It is TC Hine, it is the early stages of the development of the Park Estate, when it was sold by the Dukes of Newcastle.
“All of those things, all of those historic elements, which were also raised by the Nottingham Civic Society, are things that I am sure will be reflected.
“But, I have to say, in general terms it looks really nice. It is a very nice design in terms of looking at how it progressed from the early stages to now.
“It is an improvement, especially taking into account that building there now. We’ve got something which is much better, which is really good.”
The developer initially proposed 12 flats of student accommodation, however a consultation with 83 neighbouring properties in April last year resulted in changes to the scheme due to concerns over its use for students and impact on the conservation area.
Following consultation the developer revised the use to 15 flats for residential purposes.
Fresh consultation took place in April this year, however similar concerns were raised.
The Nottingham Civic Society objected and said the scheme “failed to preserve or enhance the character” of the conservation area.
Frustrations were also voiced over the developer’s failure to provide a Section 106 financial contributions of £195,769.19 for affordable housing, education and employment.
The scheme would almost be undeliverable if the developer had to pay the sum, councillors were told.
Cllr Sam Lux (Lab), for the Castle ward, described the system as “flawed”.
Despite the concerns, the scheme was unanimously approved.
