Victorian warehouse could be reused as part of 245-bed student block plan

The Victorian warehouse in London Road
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter

A Victorian warehouse which has been left in a “very poor” condition could be reused and form part of a 245-bed student block plan.

Plans have been submitted by Cassidy Group to build a new student block on land which sits between Hooters and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s station in London Road.

The proposals concern the site of a former Victorian warehouse once inhabited by builders’ merchants Walter Danks & Co, and a vacant plot on which once stood the Norfolk Hotel before it was demolished in 2007.

The Norfolk Hotel site, which now sits empty, was used as a car wash for some time.

According to planning documents the warehouse, which will be retained and incorporated into the plans, was built between 1885 and 1900.

The River Leen runs near to the site, where Bertram Street was once located, and the street was home to a number of cottages developed for workers in the area.

Bertram Street no longer exists and the cottages have long been demolished, however the warehouse still stands.

Planning documents, prepared by Cassidy Group, say: “The current condition of 66 London Road is very poor.

“The exterior of the building has fallen into disrepair and the interior is unsafe in its current condition.

“This provides the opportunity for development to enhance the existing street-scape by cleaning and making good the façade and rebuilding the interior in accordance with the proposed scheme.”

Cassidy Group had initially set out to build a residential block, with plans lodged as far back as 2019, but these have since changed.

The developer says this will help the council meet its student bed targets, after the Labour-run authority revealed it had a shortfall of around 5,500 beds.

Developer plans add: “The development seeks to regenerate an unoccupied city centre site comprising an existing brownfield site (No.68 London Rd) and an empty Victorian commercial building (No.66 London Rd).

“The proposal is to create a new student accommodation development that will support the council’s objectives for the South-side Regeneration Area and build upon the transformation of the area initiated by the adjacent 350 unit development of Saffron Court on Crocus Street, also by the Cassidy Group.”