A 22-storey tower has been postponed at a redevelopment on an 'ever-changing' side of Nottingham. The 22-storey residential tower, as well as a nine-storey apartment building and 12-storey student building, were all originally part of a plan for the junction of Queens Road and London Road.
But when the scheme, which was due to be built where four commercial units were recently demolished, was heard by Nottingham City Council's planning committee on October 19, it was deferred. This was due to concerns over how the scale and architecture of the tallest structure would impact Nottingham's skyline.
Significant revisions have now been made by applicant Lichfields, with the large London Road tower and the Queens Road apartment building now omitted from the plan. The application now only addresses the proposed student building, which would form the first phase of the redevelopment, with a new application detailing the residential phase two of the plan to be submitted in early 2023.
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Opinions were mixed on whether the postponement of what would have been one of Nottingham's tallest buildings was a positive development for the city. Paul Dale, 61, who is originally from Hucknall but now lives elsewhere, said: "I think that they've been sent back to the drawing board is a good thing. I don't think 22-storeys is reasonable in a place like Nottingham, it is too big.
"I just think it would dwarf the other buildings around it. I lived in Hong Kong for a while and they built these big towers, getting rid of the history there.
"Although with the student bit going ahead that's very similar to what you see in Nottingham already. I'm just concerned it is all about the money with these things."
Stewart Lyall, 70, a retiree from Bestwood, said: "I don't really know why they couldn't build something that size [the 22-storey tower] there anyway, it seems odd to not let them. They'd only be replacing rubble now and there's not much to see behind it.
"It's all changing in the city anyway, it is ever-changing. I don't see why they should be making them redesign it as so much of the city has already been knocked down and had something new put up in its place - it is progress."
The student building, which has been slightly revised, is to be located as previously proposed towards the rear boundary of the site. It remains a 12-storey L-shaped building accommodating 406 student beds within a range of studios and cluster flats.
The larger tower, which is now being rethought ahead of phase two's submission, would have been home to 163 ‘buy-to-rent’ apartments, comprising five studios, 108 one-bed and 50 two-bed apartments, according to the initial plans. The shorter nine-storey block was previously planned to contain 75 apartments.
Retiree Paul Wilson, 68, said he would not want to live in the buildings detailed in the initial plan. "I would struggle to see why people would want to live there, as I think this area is very bad for air pollution and it is always so busy," Mr Wilson said.
"It is astonishing how busy this area is with cars. We do already have a lot of student accommodation so it would have been good to get the apartments started at the same time - although I wouldn't live there myself I'm sure others would like to."
The site was previously occupied by United Carpets, used car sellers NottinghamCar.com and Magpie Security Ltd. All of these companies were forced to relocate before the demolition of the four commercial units.
Officers have advised councillors to give the greenlight to the revised phase one plan at Nottingham City Council's planning committee on December 21. They have recommended this should be would be subject to a financial contribution of £200,000 toward the provision or enhancement of off-site public open space, targets associated with local employment and training opportunities, and a student management scheme which would restrict car usage, and include details of management of potential noise nuisance, security details, cleaning and refuse management.
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