A developer has announced plans to complement the colossal HMRC building next to Nottingham Railway Station with an even taller sibling.
The Unity Square office block development has been eagerly anticipated, ever since it was announced in late 2018 that HMRC was to inhabit the 10-storey building.
Peveril Securities and its joint venture partner Sladen Estates says it has room to accommodate thousands of employees.
It was designed by Manchester-based architects 5Plus, which has again been tasked with designing the taller building on the same site.
Nottingham City Council granted planning permission in January 2019 for two office buildings totalling up to 58,360 square-metres and the first images of what the second building will look like have now been unveiled.
The developer says the new building, which will be even taller than the Unity Square block, will be "complementary" and not a pastiche of the HMRC building.
This will be achieved by "echoing the hues of the terracotta" of the railway station building nearby.
Sladen Estates told Nottinghamshire Live the latest scheme will create up to 2,000 new jobs and will be worth an estimated £100m once finished.
Residents and businesses nearby welcomed the new plans.
Nicky Onorati, 34, assistant manager at Castle Rock Brewery's Vat and Fiddle pub, said: "It is good news that more people will be coming into the city.
"It is great, it will help the city massively. Anything that generates footfall is good for Nottingham.
"It is a reason for people to try out the pubs and cafes in the area. It is giving us more to do, because yes, we are a pub first and foremost, but we’ve also got other things available for corporate people.
"Brewery tours, spaces available for office meetings and more."
Maya Sando, an account manager living in the Meadows, said: “It means more employment and more jobs in the city.
“And it also gives Nottingham a high profile.”
The 34-year-old added: “I think it would bring a lot of people into the city, because it is near the train station so people can easily commute.
“You literally get off the train and you’re at work. It’s very convenient.
“You wouldn’t get that in central London for example. I think it’s brilliant.”
Ellie Lewsza, a barista and bartender at Hopkinson in nearby Station Street, added: “It will bring more customers so that would be good for business, especially with the pandemic, because we felt a massive dip in sales.
“But I also feel like we could have more shops in the area as well. When people get off the train they will see just office buildings, there isn’t much going on here.
"It is great that they’re building them obviously, but it would be better to have more shops and entertainment that would attract more people here."
According to planning documents submitted on January 14, Peveril and Sladen will be looking to attract occupiers for the second building.
It is understood HMRC employees will be moving into the current block "shortly".
Rachel Wood, managing director at Sladen Estates, told Nottinghamshire Live: “This latest submission is an approval of reserved matters application, which follows the original grant of planning and therefore the scale and massing are as previously consented.
"The scheme will have the ability to create up to 2,000 new jobs and will be worth around £100m once built.
“We are pleased to continue to play a part in the ongoing transformation of Nottingham city centre and look forward to progressing this work in the future.”
