St Ann’s shopping parade redevelopment plans to be decided next week
The shopping parade, Robin Hood Chase, St Anns
By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter
A key decision on demolishing an unused shopping parade in St Anns in favour of new social housing is set to be taken by the council next week.
The plan, seen as vital to the community’s future, will be discussed at the Executive Board meeting at Nottingham City Council next Tuesday (May 20).
The remaining shopping parade at Robin Hood Chase is mainly vacant, but the council has developed a scheme which would deliver 15 new council houses.
The site is the remainder of the shopping centre area at Robin Hood Chase and was earmarked for redevelopment – this was previously shelved following the completion of the first two phases of redevelopment, which included Wainwright House and the library.
It aims to help address the council’s more than 10,000 household waiting list for social housing and financial pressures from paying for accommodation for homeless people.
Council papers say: “The shops are not viable for investment owing to their
location and inability to attract sufficient commercial interest from occupants paying commercial rents.”
A council document also says the old shops are a “maintenance liability” with no prospect of income.
One man who works close to the proposed site, and wished to remain anonymous, said: “It think they should have kept it as it is and has businesses in it.
“For the elderly people, and just having something simple instead of going down the bottom of the street [for a supermarket].”
He supported the council’s reasoning for needing to house people but said the scheme would “impact the events” that can currently be held in the parade square.
One lady who lives nearby, who also wished to remain anonymous, said she and her family had not been notified by the council of the proposed plans to redevelop the site.
She said: “It will concern us with all the house and all the mess.
“I would have liked to have seen the shops be turned back into shops. I’d liked to have seen a new supermarket [in the parade].”
If approved, the site would require vacant possession, demolition and clearance.
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