The number of huge student developments is only growing as demand for Nottingham's universities continues to increase. Nottingham City Council previously said in 2021 that 7,000 more rooms were needed by 2024/25.
This is despite a large amount of purpose-built accommodation either in construction or going through the planning process, which has recently caused some concern over its impact on the city's character. The most common locations within Nottingham for the developments are the city centre, Radford, and around the University of Nottingham's Jubilee Campus.
We have had a look at some of the developments moving forward in the city as it remains a go-to destination for students.
Read more: 22-storey tower postponed at redevelopment in 'ever-changing' side of Nottingham
Old fire station in Shakespeare Street
The former Nottingham Fire and Police station would be replaced with a huge student complex that would contain 987 beds, if plans are approved. The new buildings would vary in height from eight to 13-storeys, forming three sections stemming from the main Shakespeare Street façade.
Inside the building there would be a residents’ hub and communal facilities, a new ground floor public food hall, as well as public open spaces. The plans by Vita Group have proved controversial after it was revealed works would have to take place in a historic cave network to support it.
Plans to prop up the tower by placing columns into the ground and cutting through a more than 150-year-old cave network have left conservationists 'extremely concerned'. The plans are currently pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.
King Edward Street offices
A series of offices spanning King Edward Street, Glasshouse Street and Kent Street, on the fringe of the city centre will soon be demolished for more student flats. The development was approved by the city council in September, with 568 student bedrooms to be created near the Pryzm nightclub
A outline application has also been granted for 96 apartments with a mix of one, two and three bed units, as well as commercial office space and shopping areas, on the ground floor.
In a planning application Corstorphine+Wright’s, on behalf of developer Fusion Students, said there would be a new pedestrian link between Kent Street and King Edward Street. They added the regeneration would make use of what they saw as a prominent site that was currently under-used.
38-story mega-project next to Victoria Centre
The planned construction of a 38-storey student accommodation block at the former Base 51 site off Huntingdon Street and Glasshouse Street, next to the Victoria Centre, would make the new tower the city's largest building by far.
The Victoria Works development would tower above the Victoria Centre flats, which is currently the tallest building in Nottingham at just over 20 levels, and house more than 1,500 students. While a planning application has not been submitted yet, Code Students, which operates 'luxury' student accommodation in Leicester and Coventry and revealed the plan in March 2021, said in June it was looking to agree the designs with the council.
When this is completed the developers have said a full public consultation will be launched. Despite Code Student's assertion the site had been classed as being an appropriate location for a large building, the project's scale has been criticised.
Nelson Court next to Sneinton Market
A student development named Nelson Court, is under construction next to Sneinton Market. The complex when finished will host 215 student bedrooms.
Nelson Court will be run by iQ Student Accommodation, which also manages a neighbouring building. The new student accommodation is set to open in September 2023, ahead of the next academic year.
Residents have previously been divided over the potential impact of the new block of student flats. Nelson Court is directly opposite the Motorpoint Arena.
Bendigo building
Demolition work has started at the old Royal Mail sorting office on Beck Street - which was once referred to as 'Nottingham's ugliest building'. The building is now being torn down for a student tower with more than 600 bedrooms.
The side of the building, which has stood vacant for 20 years, has now been removed. The building was named Bendigo after famous 19th Century boxer William ‘Bendigo’ Thompson.
The scheme has been sold by previous developers to the Bricks Group, which will oversee the £25million proposed development. A geological survey is being carried out on the grounds by HSP Consulting to check if there are potentially any underlying caves below what would have been the basement of the building.
Traffic Street
Traffic Street, on the edge of Nottingham city centre near the city's railway station, was traditionally known for its brick warehouses, occupied by electricians, plumbers and furniture traders.
But over recent years these have rapidly given way to a more striking setting, with one side of the street now a vast wall of student accommodation. The Vantage, a 12-storey building housing 462 bedrooms, and the multi-storey 10 Traffic Street have already opened to student tenants, while construction workers are making the finishing touches to other neighbouring blocks.
On the other side of the street, machinery is now clearing the recently demolished Enterprise Car & Van Hire building in preparation for a new 297-bedroom student accommodation building. Land next to this site facing onto Wilford Road is also earmarked for a 19 storey 356-room student tower.
The Island Quarter
The latest phase of The Island Quarter development, which includes a new 702-bed student living facility, is now under construction after it was approved by Nottingham City Council last year. Huge foundation blocks for the next phase of the £1 billion 36-acre redevelopment site, including the student flats, have been pictured springing up towards the end of 2022.
The development will comprise of a 12-storey block offering a range of accommodation types, including studios. Amenities for students will include high-level sky lounges that offer clear views across the city as well as a pavilion that offers a view of a private courtyard.
The approved plans also feature multi-media lounges and co-working spaces, as well as gaming zones and quiet areas for study and relaxation. The student accommodation is expected to be available for students from the start of the 2023/24 academic year.
Lenton Toyota
Works are well underway at a huge student development on Derby Road, Lenton. The site on Derby Road in Lenton previously comprised of two Toyota and Lexus car dealerships, but is being replacing by two new buildings
When finished these structures will be three to six storeys in height and create 661 flats and 39 studio apartments. Toyota and Lexus relocated to the former Jaguar showroom next door prior to work starting, with Jaguar having moved to new premises in Enterprise Way.
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