Plans to transform a vacant bank building in Lenton into a shisha bar have been given the green-light despite fears over the further "studentification" of the area. The application is however subject to a number of conditions after a petition garnered 42 signatures.
Mr Usman Hussain submitted plans on behalf of Mr Umar Asghar at the end of last year and city councillors discussed the application during a planning meeting on Wednesday, March 23. Mr Asghar had hopes to change the 1970s building into a restaurant, via an extension, with an open shisha area outside.
The application was first submitted in 2021 and withdrawn over fears relating to the impact on the Palmer Court independent living complex off Newgate Street. They were then redrawn with revisions to the extension and the outdoor seating area.
It was also argued the scheme would appeal to the student population in Lenton. This would cause "further studentification" of the area, residents said.
According to the council residents had then become more concerned over the plans following a number of "unauthorised parties" on the vacant site towards the end of 2021. They said the parties had created "noise and anti-social behaviour" issues and the police were eventually involved.
Two petitions were therefore submitted by residents of Palmer Court at the rear of the site on Newgate Street.
The first petition gained 37 signatures and the second 42. Both expressed concerns the plans would lead to increased noise pollution and general disturbance.
The council says: "This is seen as very different to its former use as a bank with the normal business hours of 9am to 5pm. Residents already suffer from noise problems from the high number of students living in the area."
Nottingham City Homes also objected to the development alongside the Nottingham Civic Society. The meeting heard the society felt the 1970s bank building was "of particular architectural merit" and the alterations to the frontage would be of detriment to this.
Councillor Graham Chapman, who represents Aspley, was not convinced the building was of architectural merit but raised a number of issues, including those around waste collection.
The applicant however agreed to a number of conditions, including restricting hours of use to between 9am and 11pm, while the outdoor seating area would close by 10pm. Council planning officers said the scheme was therefore "acceptable".
As a result it was recommended the scheme should be granted planning permission.
Councillor Chapman said: "The restrictions the applicants have agreed to which is very helpful, including the opening times, the use of the frontage and the excluded use of the car park area for outdoor seating and I think that will be very helpful and on that basis my recommendation is we vote for this."
The vote for permission was unanimous.
