A proposal to build for apartment blocks on a nightclub site look set to be rejected.
The scheme, from Nottingham firm Astogna Limited, would see 16 apartments built in two three-storey blocks off Oxford Street and Derby Road, Long Eaton.
One block of five apartments would face Derby Road, sitting next to the former Galaxy Row cinema and would see the disused Stage One club demolished.
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Meanwhile, the second 11-apartment block would face Oxford Street and would sit next to the FastFit AutoCentre garage. A central courtyard would be created in between the two proposed structures
Initial proposals for the apartment blocks had been for five-storey structures similar in height to the former cinema, however, these have been tweaked for shorter three-storey buildings matching the height of Number 43 Derby Road – a shop fittings store.
A final decision on the plans will be made by Erewash Borough Council on Wednesday, July 20. Its planning officers have recommended that the plans are refused due to the lack of sufficient flood risk assessments, a ground floor apartment leaving that resident at fatal risk of flooding, and because the new building would block all the upper windows on a neighbouring knitwear business in Oxford Street.
However, officials detail in a report to be discussed at the meeting that the scheme is only appearing before councillors because “it affects the Long Eaton Town Deal ‘Galaxy Row’ project”.
The borough council submitted a successful £25m bid to the Government’s Town Deal Fund and a large part of that project is to redevelop the former Galaxy Row cinema site, including properties to the rear in Oxford Street – which will see the autocentre demolished.
It is believed the Galaxy Row scheme, which would include the Number 43 shop and the former Stage One club, would cost between £5m and £9m.
The council intends to convert the former cinema site, which opened in 1907 as the St James Theatre, into modern apartments, townhouses and “commercial” space for shops and businesses.
The garage would be flattened to make way for a series of townhouses which the council says would “further diversify the mix of the development whilst upholding the principle of high-quality town centre living”.
A central courtyard between the garage and cinema would be created to give new residents some usable outdoor space.
All in all this appears to show two extremely similar housing schemes sitting next to each other, but with overlapping plots – both seeking use of Number 43 Derby Road and the former Stage One club.
Astogna Limited’s plans would see three one-bedroom apartments on the ground floor of the Oxford Street property, with four one-bedroom apartments on the first floor and second floor respectively.
The Derby Road property would include a ground floor shop unit with a one-bedroom flat to the rear, along with two two-bedroom flats on the first floor and two one-bedroom flats on the second floor.
Overall, the site would have eight car parking spaces, two spaces for disabled residents and 17 spaces for bikes.
A statement submitted by the developer says: “The proposed block of apartments utilises the site efficiently. It creates active frontage to both the Derby Road and the Oxford Street street scene, whilst maintaining a commercial presence to a busy primary road and car park vehicle access to a tertiary back road.
“The proposed design sustainably creates 16 new residential dwellings. As such full planning permission should be granted without delay.”
The Environment Agency has submitted an objection letter opposing the plans due to the lack of a sufficient flood risk assessment to ensure would-be residents would be kept safe against potential flooding and take climate change into consideration.
It says the development including ground floor sleeping accommodation (one apartment in the Derby Road building) in a flood zone three area (the highest risk) is “not acceptable”.
The county council says the lack of off-street parking is “not ideal” but claimed the “hazards” of parking on the site “outweigh any benefit”.
Borough council officers say the “level of harm” caused by the Oxford Street building blocking the upper windows of the knitting factory unit would warrant refusal of the plans – even if flood risk assessments are carried out.
The developer is said to have offered to pay for rooflights in the neighbouring property but the owner says this is not possible due to the loft area being used for storage – so light still would not reach the upper floor unit.
Council officers write: “Whilst the principle of the re-development of this site is acceptable and the design could improve the appearance of two street scenes, the proposal would cause a harmful impact on the operation of the neighbouring site.
“The application is not accompanied by an adequate flood risk assessment and the proposed development would put future occupiers at a significant level of flood risk and potentially endanger lives.”
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