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Roof extension and new offices approved for locally-listed former Old Basford sewing factory

A roof extension with new offices has been approved for a historic former sewing factory in Old Basford.

The Vedonis building, on the Bar Lane Industrial Estate, is currently vacant and not in use.

But it will be given a new lease of life after Nottingham City Council approved plans on Tuesday (May 6).

MLS Verdonis Ltd submitted the plans in October, asking the council to extend the roof and create three new offices.

The plans will also create 19 additional parking spaces in the existing car park, and make some internal works to provide access to the rooftop.

No external alterations will be made to the building apart from “minor repair works”, documents add, while its locally-listed facade will be protected.

Planning documents read: “The rooftop extension features a simple design that is subservient to the façade of this locally listed building.

“The suggested materials are muted in colour and sympathetic to the historic context, ensuring the extension sits comfortably within the street without harming the setting of neighbouring listed buildings.

“The proposal also revitalises a vacant building that has suffered fire damage.”

The Vedonis building, once used in the manufacturing of lace clothing, including ladies’ underwear, is on the Nottingham Local List.

This list ensures the protection of local heritage buildings not yet added to Historic England’s listings.

A fire broke out at the derelict building on June 18, 2022.

No casualties were reported, but significant damage was caused to the former factory.

Nottingham Civic Society (NCS) praised plans to renovate the “fire-damaged derelict building”, and to “bring it back into business use”.

But it also questioned whether the extension’s height could be reduced.

In a planning consultation, the Civic Society said: “Whilst NCS welcomes the intention to renovate the fire-damaged derelict building and bring it back into business use, NCS does wonder whether there is any scope to reduce the height of the extension somewhat to reduce its visual bulk and impact on the appearance of the building below.”

These comments weren’t addressed in planning, however, the applicant said: “The application site is not within or adjoining a designated conservation area.

However the existing building is identified on the council’s list of buildings of
historical interest … [and] clearly have a degree of significance in the locality.”