Mapperley resident hope the development of a restaurant and bar at the site of a former Lloyds TSB bank can help it become a popular area for dining establishments. Plans for the £2.25million transformation have been granted, with proposals for the old bank in Plains Road, which closed during the pandemic, also including four apartments, four offices and retail space.
Hillcrest Properties, a third-generation family property company based in Nottingham, successfully secured planning consent for the site.
Work is set to start on the development over the coming weeks and the units will be available to rent later this year. Landa Associates has been instructed to find an operator for the new restaurant, as well as tenants for the accompanying first-floor offices and ground-floor retail space.
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Plans have been in the pipeline for some time and, now that they have been given the green light, local shoppers have had their say on the ideas. Some say they hope it can become a place that serves good food.
Mike Diamond, 56, works in IT and lives nearby. He said: "Of course it's better that something is being done instead of letting it just sit there. I'd like to see how late it will be open until because we've got a few places that open late but rarely get people staying until the end.
"I think I'd like Mapperley's bars and restaurants to be a little more like Sherwood. I love going into Sherwood now - all of the places there are lovely.
"There are a lot of really nice places to go to. Have you seen around here?
"I find myself going over to Beeston when I go out to eat now. I like Bombay and there's a tapas place which is meant to be nice but I think it looks a bit overpriced.
"I'd like [the new development] to be more like a gastro pub. Somewhere that does good food and isn't open too late. If not then to be honest I'm not sure they will get a lot of business.
"You've got the Wine Room and a few other places and you never see people in there too late. So there's a bit of competition.
"The building is a bit of an eyesore though so let's see how they do because it's better than nothing."
Sara Charford, 52, who has lived in Mapperley for eight years, said: "I'm all for it. I don't see what the issue would be.
"It sounds like it would be a nice addition to the area. Barely anyone actually lives on the high street so I doubt it would actually disrupt anyone.
"The old bank has been closed for a while now anyway. It's just sitting there."
Developers said they have been "inundated" with interest from major operators.
Retired 73-year-old Collin Ellis, who lives nearby, said the potential for noise wouldn't bother him. "I don't really think the area needs it. I'm not bothered really [about the potential noise] because I live a bit further down but there are a lot of bars and places to eat that have opened up on the high street and I'm not sure we need another one.
"I'm not sure what I'd like to have instead. We have a lot of charity shops so you can rule another one of those out.
"It's a huge space and I agree something should be done with it. I just think a lot of people would say we've got enough bars.
"I'd worry a little for what it would be like for the people who are going to live above it. I think people live above the Costa."
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