Plans for a new student block in Nottingham are expected to be approved despite residents in The Park fearing they could be left in “complete darkness” by the development.
Applicant David Pownall has submitted plans to build a four-storey block off Castle Boulevard, and they have been tipped for approval at a Nottingham City Council planning committee meeting on Wednesday (September 17).
The site is located to the west of the city centre and sandwiched between Castle Boulevard to the south and Fishpond Drive to the north. It is made up of a collection of buildings.
Three commercial buildings on the site were most recently occupied by Zoo Interiors, a showroom selling home furniture, which has now relocated to another shop on Castle Boulevard.
The ground floor of the red-brick building would provide shared amenity space, meeting space, study space, and a refuse and bike storage.
Two commercial units fronting Castle Boulevard would be kept, and access to the building would be from the street, with a gate at the rear of the site onto Fishpond Drive to be used as a fire escape only.
An existing four-bed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), which is two storeys in height and sits within the site, will also be kept.
In total, 114 letters of objection have been sent to the council.
Residents in The Park have objected to the general idea of the new proposal, and a petition has been signed by 50 people.
Earlier this year occupants in Maria Court, who live opposite the planned block, said the new building could leave them in “complete darkness”.
Mike Preston, 76, who has lived in the apartment block for the past 40 years, said: “I get a beautiful sunrise and sun all day round, but I won’t be able to see any of it any more, and I’m on the second floor.”
Another Maria Court resident who has lived in the block for the past 11 years, Dr Shehnila Zaya, 47, added: “There will be irreparable loss of privacy, they will have a full view of all of our flats. It’s all these things we feel undermined.”
However the developer says: “The site presents the opportunity to regenerate and reinvigorate the existing building to ensure its long-term and appropriate use, safeguarding the building for the future.
“The proposed design will improve the attractiveness and animation on Castle Boulevard by refurbishing the existing façade and new student accommodation scheme.”
According to planning documents the current building was originally used as a vehicle repair shop and showroom in the early 1950s. In the 1990s, it was converted for bulky goods and retail use.
The developer has agreed to provide £289,017 towards affordable housing in lieu of on-site provision, £174,805 towards off-site public open space and public realm enhancement, and £14,210 towards local employment and training.
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