By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
The top half of Nottingham’s oldest shopping arcade will be extended and turned into student accommodation if new plans are approved.
The ground and lower ground floor of West End Arcade will be refurbished, while student accommodation will be created on the upper floors, which will be extended.
The shopping arcade on Upper Parliament Street dates back to the 1920s and is well known for quirky, independent businesses.
The top half of the building was closed to April 2023, leaving the shopping centre only accessible from Long Row.
Refurbishment plans have been submitted by applicant Lee Gao, with a replacement shopfront to the Upper Parliament Street entrance.
A new floor would be constructed, creating a total of 23 en-suite bedrooms for students.
Computer-generated images of the proposals show Japanese pagoda-style roofs on the Upper Parliament front, complementing the existing sushi restaurant on the ground floor.
This could be welcomed by Nottingham City Council, who described the current large concrete façade as having a “bland, lifeless” appearance during pre-application discussions.
The planning documents say: “The design aims to make the best use of available space above the existing retail development, which will be repurposed to its full advantage.
“The applicant wants to take the opportunity to celebrate his cultural background and create a local ‘landmark’.”
It argues that the creation of an additional floor wouldn’t be noticeable from street level.
The application adds that there appears to be “tacit support” to bring the building back into full use from Nottingham City Council, who will decide the application.
The West End Arcade was built in the 1920s, with the upper section added in the 1960s. An escalator between the two floors was removed in 2012 after an accident.
Shoppers today can find antique books, independent jewellers, vintage records and autograph shops.
The site sits within a Conservation Area, but isn’t considered a heritage asset itself.
