By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
A plan for 104 student flats on top of a Poundland store in Nottingham city centre has been given the go-ahead after councillors described it as a “big improvement” to the area.
Plans were submitted by Maven Property (Nottingham) for a student block up to five storeys in Lower Parliament Street.
They were approved at by Nottingham City Council’s planning committee on February 22.
The flats will be built on top of the existing building which is home to branches of Poundland and Bonmarche. Both will continue to trade during and after construction.
Cllr Sally Longford (Lab), portfolio holder for environment, said: “Most Nottingham people will know of this awful, ugly, horrible building and I really welcome the fact that this is going to be refurbished and they are using the original structure which is obviously more sustainable than knocking it down.
“I do welcome this development. I think it is an ideal place. It is an area which leads into the Lace Market, a busy thoroughfare, and does need enhancement and I think it will improve the look of the place a lot.”
The roof area will be covered in greenery, while planners now think there may be an opportunity to link the flats with the council’s district heating network which runs beneath the building.
The public areas surrounding the building will also be improved as part of the scheme, meaning the existing street vendors and traders will get designated plots to trade from.
However there were some concerns, particularly with the retaining of a bridge which runs across to the Victoria Centre.
The bridge does not form part of the site.
“I am very disappointed the bridge is going to stay. I do hope the owners of the bridge, which is not associated with this site, will look to refurbish it,” Cllr Longford added.
There had been three objections from neighbours in the nearby Crusader House flats.
The former telephone exchange was converted to 58 apartments in 2001.
The objectors state: “Student population causes noise, disruption and anti-social behaviour in the city centre, particularly in evenings and weekends.
“Development will cut out almost all natural light to Crusader House flats on the side facing the development and will remove privacy through directly looking into the flats.”
Echoing the concerns Cllr Gul Khan (Lab) added: “There are already a few students around that area. The neighbours are complaining about the noise and anti-social behaviour.
“The neighbours are not very happy.”
Despite this, planning officers said the scheme and its impact on nearby apartments was “acceptable”, while deputy chairman of the committee, Cllr Graham Chapman (Lab), said it was a “big improvement”.
Following discussions plans were unanimously approved.
