Another office block once used by the Government tax service is to be converted for business school uses by the University of Nottingham.
From 1994 the Inland Revenue Centre was home to just under 2,000 staff, who at the time worked for Inland Revenue – now HMRC – following its decision to expand outside of London.
The offices were put up for sale for £36m after HMRC moved to the new Unity Square block off Sheriff’s Way, close to Nottingham Station, in 2021.
It was bought by the University of Nottingham, which was given planning approval in 2023 to use it as a new city centre location for the Nottingham University Business School.
However, it had to later be given special permission to begin work after the site was given Grade II listed status, following a campaign by the Nottingham Civic Society and Twentieth Century Society.
Howard House, an office block that forms part of the former Inland Revenue office campus off Castle Meadow Road and Wilford Road, will become the fifth building on the site to be converted for educational purposes.
Planning permission was given by Nottingham City Council on May 9.
A planning statement says: “The proposed change of use of Building D at Castle Meadow Campus will provide enhanced functionality, improved aesthetics, and greater accessibility.
“This design and access statement demonstrates that the development has been thoughtfully designed with consideration for both design principles and access requirements.
“The scheme brings significant social and economic benefits to the city through the regeneration of a sustainable city centre site, facilitated by a world-class university as part of their long-term vision for their new campus.”
Building D is part of a network of seven buildings on the campus, which includes two block buildings with central courtyards, four L-shaped blocks, and the central building which has a distinct fabric roof.
The fabric roof, originally designed and installed in 1994 by Hopkins Architects and Arup and is the size of seven tennis courts, was recently replaced.
It is described as one of the most complicated roof structures in Europe, and has been replaced to preserve the legacy of the old structure.
The latest development involves changing the use of Building D from office space to university use.
Documents say the development will utilise the existing structure of Building D without any external alterations.
Supporting the plans, city planners added: “It is considered that the proposed change of use would facilitate the continued use of this highly acclaimed and sustainable campus, which would continue to support the provision of economic development through the modernisation, inward investment, and expansion of the UoN in the city.”
