Plans for Nottingham 17-storey tower block of student apartments approved

A 17-storey tower of student flats which will be seen from Nottingham Castle has been given the green light, despite objections from one of the city's universities. Nottingham City Council planners agonised over whether the building was too tall, and whether the student housing market was becoming saturated, before granting it permission.

The building, which is also seven and twelve storeys in places, will sit on a former factory site at the junction of Wilford Road and Traffic Street. It will offer 395 student rooms and has been proposed by a company called Jensco (Wilford Road) Limited.

On Wednesday, June 19, the council planning committee was shown artists’ impressions of how it would change the skyline from Nottingham Castle, around a quarter of a mile away. Councillor Kevin Clarke said: “I don’t see advantage of that building standing in front of the castle.

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“There’s comments from Historic England and the Civic Society about it obstructing the views – to me, it’s all negative.” Councillor Graham Chapman agreed and said it was “four storeys taller than I would like”.

He added: “The number of students is in decline. I wonder whether their business model is pushing [the building] higher than it needs to be. However, having students in the city is an export – we are selling education. Students are keeping city centre retail going.”

The council’s planning officers said that they deemed it acceptable to have one high-rise building given the height of others in that area had been carefully restricted.

It is the final brownfield site on Traffic Street, which has been regenerated from an industrial area into a student housing hub. This plot was once used by Boots as offices and a laboratory, and was cleared in 2008.

Councillor Kirsty Jones said: “I’m not squeamish about the height, and we really need residential accommodation of any type.”

Some argued that they would much rather see traditional family homes go up instead. Councillor Faith Gakanje-Ajala said: “I struggle to understand the student accommodation model in Nottingham.

“Small families are socially excluded. Homeless families are being placed outside of Nottingham because of the shortage.” Councillors were advised that purpose-built student housing would relieve pressure on traditional homes, which could be converted back for family use.

Negotiations for the apartment building have been going on for five years, with the small space making the area difficult to develop on. The developer has agreed to pay £850,000 towards affordable housing in the area.

The plans were passed after all voted in favour except for Councillor Clarke, who voted to refuse it. The University of Nottingham said it did not support the plans due to the high proportion of studio flats.