Councillors have approved the building of 113 affordable homes near Nottingham City Hospital on a site where a supermarket had been planned.
The site, the former Chronos Richardson plastics factory off Belconnen Road, in Bestwood, was originally going to be transformed into a new Lidl supermarket surrounded by new homes – but the plans fell through.
The new scheme, for 113 homes, was submitted on behalf of residential developer MyPad and the Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA).
It was approved at a Nottingham City Council planning committee meeting on Wednesday (November 19).
Cllr Sam Harris (Lab), a member of the committee, said: “I think it is really good to see it, and with its close proximity to City Hospital we could get some health professionals living there.
“I do think it is a really good site. I know there have been approvals previously for development. Housing for the social need is absolutely necessary, especially places like that with a close proximity to a huge employer.”
In total 18 flats and 95 houses will be built on the site, featuring a mix of one, two, three and four-bed houses and one-bedroom flats.
They will all be available as shared-ownership properties or for social rent.
Developers had previously been given permission for a scheme to build 62 homes and a new Lidl supermarket, after plans first surfaced in 2022.
However the scheme hit problems relating to developer financial contributions, known as Section 106 agreements.
In 2023 Lidl confirmed it had withdrawn its plans due to delays relating to the planning process, prompting a rethink by the developer.
The supermarket chain previously said the new store would generate up to 40 full-time jobs and contribute around £2 million to the local economy.
Cllr Graham Chapman (Lab), a member of the committee, said: “We’ve been discussing this site for many, many years, and I’ve always been reluctant to think this was going to be developed. It is quite a nice site, it could be open space. But you get to the stage where social need is so important.
“I think this is probably a good a use as any.”
Planning documents confirm there will be “pockets of green” space spread across the site once complete.
