Historic Hockley building to be transformed into six-storey student flat block

Plans for the building in Hockley (credit Nottingham City Council)
By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans to turn a historic Nottingham city centre building into student accommodation are expected to be given the green light by councillors.

The empty neo-classical building in Goose Gate, Hockley, would be transformed into a six-storey block housing 100 students.

The ground floor of the building was last used as a bar and restaurant.

Despite opposition to the plans from Nottingham Civic Society and local residents, city council planning documents show the authority is set to approve the application next week. Plans were first submitted in July 2021.

One neighbouring resident said it would be “a crime” to build on the current historic structure and claimed that the plans would “ruin the current aesthetics of the Goose Gate property”.

Other residents raised concerns over noise, loss of light, privacy and parking.

Developer Clarendon Nottingham Ltd plans to convert the existing three-storey building at 38-46 Goose Gate, with an extension including further floors.

The tallest parts of the building will be more than 80ft tall.

Some of the building will be demolished to make way for development on Woolpack Lane, which would be six storeys high, stepping down to five storeys at Hockley House.

A restaurant, cafe or shop is proposed for the ground floor and the existing entrance, which has ‘heritage value’, would be retained and upgraded.

Nottingham Civic Society objected to the height of the inter-war, neo-classical building, which it said “makes a positive contribution to the Goosegate character area of the Lace Market”.

In a written statement, it added: “The proposed scale of this development along Woolpack Lane is at least two storeys too tall.

“The architecture fails to live up to its Lace Market location with relatively  shallow detailing and understated entrances to the building.”

In supporting the plans, council officers wrote: “The provision of further good quality Purpose Build Student Accommodation in the city centre is likely to attract students that would otherwise occupy houses of multiple occupation outside of the City Centre, freeing up such accommodation for families and assisting in rebalancing communities currently with high concentration of student occupation.”

The applicant said a student management plan would be in place and restriction on occupants keeping private vehicles.

It added the scheme includes 48 cycle spaces, heat recovery systems, low energy lighting and air source heat pumps.