Nottingham city centre shoppers are sceptical about the idea that a 'hideous' former Nottingham department store and restaurant - which fell into disrepair - could soon become student accommodation. Kexgill Limited has submitted plans to convert the mid-20th Century ‘Antibo’ building, in Lower Parliament Street, into 49 student flats via an upwards extension.
The building was first built in in two phases, with phase one constructed in around 1929 following the clearance of buildings in the area for the extension of Lower Parliament Street. Phase two was completed in around 1938 when then-leaseholder the Star Boot Company sought to expand its store.
It was used as a department store up until the 1980s, according to the developer. More recently it housed Italian restaurant Antibo, the name of which remains embossed on the building’s frontage, and Chez Coor’s, a Jamaican buffet.
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Nottingham residents are delighted about the prospect of something being done with the building, but are less giddy about the idea of student flats Tony Birkell, 55, who works as an accountant, said: "[I'm in] in favour of a change. Not in favour of student flats.
"That's my two cents. Well I think we already have enough student flat developments across the city. Well we always have too many going on. But I also don't think it's the right location for it.
"It's a busy enough road as it is and it's right opposite a club. It's asking for trouble, really. There are other locations where it might be better suited. This is a road leading into the city - I think a bar or a restaurant would be welcomed by people more.
"It [the building] looks hideous now. It's a mess and I don't know how they let it end up looking like that. It needs a refurbishment - just not student flats in my opinion."
Following the closure of the buffet restaurant the building was left derelict and became a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and break-ins, leading at one point to an illegal cannabis grow, planning reports say. It was subsequently put up for sale for £1.4million.
Catherine Rosier, 62, who lives in Sneinton, said: " It's in an area where they've got the potential to do something nice so I'm surprised it's going to be student accommodation. Well, I say surprised, I suppose student accommodation isn't a surprise at all.
"It's a huge space they could do something for entertainment in there, maybe a bowling venue or something like that. But if they're going to do flats, one for students makes sense. It's next to a nightclub so maybe it's ideal for younger people."
The developer says student accommodation is suitable for the building due to its close proximity to Nottingham Trent University ’s city campus. Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, part of NTU, also sits across the road.
“This location is perfectly positioned for student housing due to its close proximity to the Nottingham Trent University campus and will also help to revitalise the local area by drawing interest further down Lower Parliament Street, and into the Creative Quarter,” planning documents say.
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