An eight-storey apartment building can now be built in the Meadows after its design was finalised and approved by planning officers.
Developer Rainier is behind the plans for 191 apartments off Meadows Way.
A 1970s office building will be demolished to make way for the new eight-storey block, which steps down to five and three storeys on different sides.
During a Nottingham City Council Planning Committee meeting on March 20, the plans were delegated to officers while designs were finalised.
Meadows ward councillor, Michael Edwards (Lab), had described the building as “a bit big and a bit brutal”.
“I think much more needs to be done to tackle that sense of its bulk and to reduce that sense of its brutality,” he said, asking officers to do all they could to make it more suitable.
Plans have now been approved by officers, after finalised floor plans were submitted in April.
The proposal includes 26 car parking spaces, including four disabled parking
spaces, which is considered appropriate given the site’s location within the city centre and proximity to public transport links.
At the March meeting two councillors voted against the plans, including Cllr AJ Matsiko (Lab) and leader of the Nottingham Independents and Independent Group, Cllr Kevin Clarke.
A debate had been held over the fact the developer will not have to provide any financial contribution to the local area under what is known as a Section 106 planning obligation.
Planning obligations are legal obligations to mitigate the impacts of a development.
Developers typically agree to provide a financial payment to help with affordable housing targets, creating more open space, increasing biodiversity as well as education, employment and training opportunities.
However, where a developer feels it cannot provide these contributions due to costs, they may be waived subject to a viability assessment.
The committee was told developer Rainier was anticipating between a 17.5 and 20 per cent return, or around £1.2m of the £7m development total.
A viability assessment was submitted by the developer, which was independently reviewed by an assessor appointed by the council, and it was determined the development would not be viable if it had to provide Section 106 contributions.
Councillors said it had become a “constant battle” to get community cash.
However, on the advice of officers, 10 councillors voted for the plans.
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