Plans have been submitted to transform Nottingham’s former Via Fossa venue into a restaurant and 38-unit aparthotel.
The proposals for 44 Canal Street would bring the locally listed building back into use after it became vacant in October 2024.
Planning documents prepared by ARC Design Studio for Carlton Street Trading show that the ground floor and part of the first floor would be used as a hospitality venue operated by Loungers, while the remaining upper floors would become visitor accommodation.
The hospitality venue would have around 450 square metres of internal trading space, comprising approximately 320 square metres on the ground floor and 130 square metres on the first floor.
The trading areas would occupy broadly the same parts of the building as the previous hospitality use. Other areas would contain a kitchen, toilets, storage and other back-of-house facilities.
The existing main entrance from Canal Street would be retained, while double doors at the rear would provide access to an outdoor terrace beside the Nottingham and Beeston Canal. A serving hatch is also proposed to support the use of the canalside area.
The design statement says the venue would generally open from 09:00, with closing times of either 23:00 or midnight depending on the day. Exact staffing levels have not yet been confirmed.
A separate entrance from Canal Street would serve the proposed aparthotel, which would operate independently from the hospitality venue.
The 38 units would be distributed across part of the first floor, the upper floors and new internal mezzanine levels. Accommodation would include double and “double-double” rooms, each containing a desk, wardrobe, television, storage, kitchenette and en-suite bathroom.
There would be no on-site parking. The design statement instead points to the building’s city-centre location, approximately three minutes’ walk from Nottingham Station and close to Broad Marsh Bus Station.
The building is a locally listed heritage asset within the Canal Conservation Area and stands next to the Grade II-listed Canal House.
The proposals include repairing or replacing existing windows where necessary, removing some later glass-brick sections and introducing workshop-style doors, black metal Juliet balconies and Crittall-style glazing.
The applicants say the development would retain the building’s established hospitality use while bringing its vacant upper floors back into use.
The design statement sets out the applicant’s proposals and supporting case, but does not record a final decision by Nottingham City Council.