A tower block for more than 400 students opposite Hooters has been given the go-ahead after a lengthy debate over fears Nottingham has reached its 'saturation point’ with similar buildings. Development consultants Lichfields and architecture practice Consarc had proposed a 22-storey tower and two smaller blocks on the site of a number of demolished industrial units at the junction of Queen's Road and London Road.
The proposals were deferred by councillors in October due to concerns with inadequate architecture, decoration and design of all three buildings. The large tower was to accommodate 163 private rent apartments and a smaller nine-storey block would accommodate a further 75.
Plans for these have been withdrawn and will return in the new year. Meanwhile the third building, an L-shaped block with 12 storeys for 406 student beds, returned to Nottingham City Council's planning committee on Wednesday, December 21.
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It has undergone significant changes including a change of materials and colour, while sharp edges have been rounded. Cllr Kevin Clarke (Nottm Ind) was the only councillor to object to the plans over fears Queen’s Road and the south of the city was becoming “oversaturated” with students.
While he said the new design was a "vast improvement over the last plan", he stated he would not be supporting them. He said: "I think the saturation point has been reached in the area.
"Where are the houses for families? It's fine you saying there is a need for students, but what about the needs for families?"
Labour councillors argued the site could not be used for family homes and that land in the south of the city and the Meadows was "limited", with plots used as best they can be for housing. Councillor Michael Edwards (Lab), the chairman of the committee, said: "We had some very, very substandard, poorly-insulated flats and they have been replaced by housing in the Meadows, that has been done recently.
"We have had some very high standard eco-housing put in the Meadows recently. We've had flats taken by homeless families across the city, so that has been a step forward in terms of providing for family need, but there is not that much land left in the Meadows.
"The commercial demand is for student accommodation and is for apartments and we are meeting that as best we can." Nottingham City Council says it has so far avoided a university housing crisis seen in other places across the country, such as Durham, but it still has a shortfall of an estimated 5,500 student beds.
If these needs are not met, students may be forced to rent out housing in the suburbs. The committee was informed the vacancy rate was just above one per cent for student beds, meaning demand remains very high.
Council officers said councillors would be required to demonstrate the development would cause "harm" if they wanted to turn plans down, and argued there was no evidence to suggest this would be the case. Officers also advised there could be cost implications if the developers appealed any decision to turn plans down.
All councillors but one approved plans for the 12-storey student block. The 22-storey tower and nine-storey residential block will return in the new year following a "detailed review".
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