A massive new block of student flats may be changed to accommodate more students, despite concerns from neighbours.
There are plans to increase the number of flats at the old Gala Bingo building site in St Ann's Well Road from 356 to 426.
Developers had initially hoped to build 396 flats, over nine storeys, but this was reduced before the plans came to Nottingham City Council’s planning committee on January 20, 2021.
But now the site's new owners, Crown Student Living, who confirmed to Nottingham City Council they had bought it in May 2020, want to add extra rooms by redesigning the layout of the initial plans and and re-purposing "oversized apartment social space".
Residents gave mixed opinions of the prospect of more students being brought to the area.
Royston Chilvers, 46, a call centre operator originally from St Ann's, said: "I think it's all a bit too much to be honest.
"You're bringing all these students in and all these big buildings, but there's not even anything to do in St Ann's anymore.
"There's not a single pub in St Ann's, if there's nothing to do because it's all housing then why live here.
"Students do bring things to the city but I'm confused to as how many the city can take really."
The former bingo club was demolished in 2019, with the site utilised as a temporary car parking up until construction work started recently.
Several concerns had been raised ahead of the original plan's approval, both by the neighbouring mosque and by local councillors.
Retiree Peter Chilvers, 78, who also used to live in St Ann's, said: "I would say there is a bit of a wall going up of these buildings, they are some just opposite already and further up.
"People are complaining that gardens are being blocked off, it's happening to the Bendigo as well [being turned into student accommodation] which will do the same - but that is an ugly building."
Ben Tennant, 19, a student at the University of Nottingham originally from Brighton, had a different opinion on the plans.
He said: "I mean it's already been knocked down and they look like they're starting so I don't know if it matters on an increase in numbers.
"People might be annoyed by it but there is a lot of student stuff around here already and in Nottingham generally.
"But even if it's not any bigger some people won't want more students."
In a planning document Pearson Planning Ltd, on behalf of Crown Student Living, said: "The final application proposals comprise a high-quality design in keeping with the character of the area, which will also enhance the immediate vicinity of the site, as well as wider views of the City Centre and fit into the aspirations for the wider City Centre area.
"The building has been designed to both provide a positive frontage and activity at ground floor level and to be attractive when viewed in the whole from a distance."
The application is currently pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.
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