News

Social housing projects approved at two ‘eyesore’ Nottingham sites

By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

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Two social housing schemes in ‘eyesore’ Nottingham areas have been approved to help address the city’s 10,000-plus household waiting list.

The plans for part of Robin Hood Chase, St Anns, and an under-used garage site in Bulwell were discussed in the authority’s Executive Board meeting today (May 20).

Both schemes are designed to ease social housing and financial pressures from paying for accommodation for homeless people.

The remaining shopping parade at Robin Hood Chase is mainly vacant but the granted scheme will bring 15 new two-bed council homes to the area.

The site was earmarked for redevelopment – but this was previously shelved following the completion of the first two phases of the plan, which included Wainwright House and the library.

Now, the old shops will be demolished to make way for the homes, with council papers saying: “The shops are not viable for investment owing to their
location and inability to attract sufficient commercial interest from occupants paying commercial rents.”

The £3.5 million project will be funded through Right to Buy receipts – the cash raised through selling council homes under the Right to Buy scheme.

In October 2024, the Labour Government announced a cut to Right to Buy discounts for council tenants looking to buy homes.

Councils can also now keep 100 per cent of their Right-to-Buy sales, meaning they can keep more of the money they get from selling homes under the scheme – before councils could only retain 50 per cent.

Councillor Jay Hayes (Lab), Executive Member for Housing & Planning, said:  “[This] will get people [on the housing list] into more suitable accommodation that’s more affordable and those people will go on to live more fulfilling and secure lives.”

Cllr Hayes said the council is working with the one occupied shop to find alternative uses.

Cllr Cheryl Barnard (Lab), Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education Children’s Services, said: “The shops are an eyesore in the area… it will really improve the look of the area, at the same time providing much-needed houses, especially when we think of those families in temporary accommodation.”

In Bulwell, under-used garages behind the Colston Road and Austin Street flats will be transformed into up to 32 one-bed flats in a four-storey block – also funded by Right to Buy receipts.

Out of the 54 garages, 33 are empty and the authority says there has been vandalism and fly-tipping at the site. Two are sealed following fire damage.

Cllr Linda Woodings (Lab), Executive Member for Regional Development, Growth and Transport, said: “The building’s actually surrounded by multi-storey council properties, so four storeys sounds big but it’s [similar to] other housing around there.”

She added: “We’ve got several hundred council houses in development at the minute across the city and this just adds to that.”

Cllr Barnard called the garages an “eyesore”, saying: “I’m really pleased to see any improvement and refurbishment of the surrounding flats will be aligned with this work, it’s really important for people living there to have their conditions improved.”

The council will look to support people renting the garages to find alternative nearby units.

A separate planning application will have to be submitted for the scheme but the aim is to have the flats built and ready to let by late 2027.