intu raises concerns over Boots Island site scheme

Shopping mall owner intu has expressed concerns over the huge Boots Island site scheme, which is set to go before Nottingham City Council’s planning committee next Wednesday (17 April).

The 40-acre former Boots Island site is to be transformed into new homes, grade A office space, creative market space, a hotel, retail and a ‘linear’ park and community space with student accommodation, developed by land owner Conygar.

The decision to recommend the scheme for planning permission was made at the international property show MIPIM last month, but new documents show that intu has expressed concern about the retail element of the development.

intu, has just started work on the redevelopment of its Broadmarsh shopping centre, warns that the retail space planned (nearly 45,000 sq ft for local retailers) for the Boots Island site is nearly three times more than originally outlined in the vision for the scheme.

In a reponse to the planning application from Conygar, intu says: “Given what is at stake for the city centre, we would expect a cumulative quantitative impact assessment to be carried out for these uses, along with the other uses proposed. This assessment remains absent from the updated report.

“Intu remains concerned that these food and beverage uses have the potential to undermine planned investment in the City Centre at intu Broadmarsh and Victoria. Furthermore, the community/local retail and Creative Market floorspace, if not appropriately controlled, could also undermine planned investment. The intu Broadmarsh redevelopment, which started on site this year, includes 3,741 sq m of food and beverage – so is directly comparable to the food and beverage proposed on the Island site, and there is likely to be competition to attract the same occupiers.

Intu says that if the Council is to grant planning permission, “a range of conditions” need to be imposed to ensure the development is implemented in accordance with that described in the application, and to ensure that development complements the city centre, and does not adversely impact on planned investment.”

Conygar’s plans for the Boots Island site include new homes, grade A office space, creative market space, a five-star hotel, retail units, a ‘linear’ park and community space as well as new student accommodation to the city, “will help Nottingham punch it weight”.