A 1960s office building in Nottingham is to be demolished and replaced with new apartments.
The building, at Clinton Terrace off Derby Road, sits on the edge of The Park estate conservation area, which is known for its Victorian architecture and working gas street lighting.
Plans submitted by Paul Buckingham will see the office block replaced with a five-storey building containing 17 one-bedroom and five two-bedroom apartments.
Nottingham City Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the scheme on Wednesday, June 17.
The site is attached to the western end of Clinton Terrace, a prominent four-storey Victorian terrace designed by T C Hine, the Nottingham architect who played a major role in developing The Park as a residential estate from the mid-19th century.
Nottingham Civic Society supported the plans, saying the existing building “offers nothing to the character of the conservation area”, while the proposed replacement references architectural features from nearby historic buildings.
Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis (Lab) said the scheme would remove a building that did not contribute to the area and replace it with one more in keeping with its surroundings.
He said: “What we see here is basically a building that is trying to replicate certain elements, or the character of that estate, taking away a building that doesn’t contribute to the area and replacing it with a building that contributes to the beauty of the area.
“It is an improvement to what is already there, and it does bring more houses for people to live in.”
Cllr Shuguftah Quddoos (Green) said some residents had objected over concerns the flats could be occupied by students.
Planning officer Jennifer Cole said the apartment type “could mean you could get students”, but added their size, expected higher price and residential designation would likely make that less probable.
Cllr Sam Harris (Lab) also backed the plans, saying the scheme could help provide accommodation for graduates who want to remain in Nottingham.
He said: “I think this is a much better representation of Nottingham’s history and architecture.
“We have tens of thousands of students coming into the city, but not tens of thousands retained and staying in the city. In my experience as a former student it is because of that lack of accommodation available.”
Planning permission was previously granted in 2022 to convert the building to residential use, but that consent expired last year.
A separate approval was granted in 2023 for demolition of the office block and construction of a four-storey building with 15 flats. That permission remains valid until November 2026, but the developer said the earlier scheme was no longer financially viable, leading to the expanded proposal now approved.