Architect hails faith of ‘entrepreneurial’ developer shaping Nottingham’s future

A “entrepreneurial” Nottingham developer is set take a chance on Nottingham – according to the architect working closely with the firm.

Leonard Design is collaborating with Carlton Street Trading on a host of schemes across the city – including the redevelopment of Sneinton Market, the Grove pub in Lenton and, now, the Grains building in Hockley.

Plans were revealed last week to redevelop a derelict building in the Hockley area of Nottingham into retail space and student accommodation have been revealed.

Carlton Street Trading wants to turn the former Grains Building, which was last used a shop selling toys and models, on Heathcote Street into 74 student bedrooms on the upper floors and a cafe on the ground floor.

The building was originally used to make sewing machines and was built in the 1930s.

John Morgan from Leonard Design told TheBusinessDesk.com: “This is a building that the people of Nottingham will be able to look at, see and touch.

“It’s great that the big-ticket schemes such as the Island Quarter, Broadmarsh, Unity Square and Castle are coming forward, but we also need more entrepreneurial developers bringing forward schemes in parallel in other areas of the city – and that’s what Carlton Street is doing with the Grains building.”

He added: “Carlton Street have enough faith in Nottingham that they’re willing to develop speculatively across the city. Their belief in the city is so strong.”

Morgan said Leonard Design is working with Nottingham City Council’s planning bosses to bring forward planning consent for the Grains building, on Heathcoat Street, “as soon as possible. He added that then a view will be taken by Carlton Street on a start date for the redevelopment of the building, which has been vacant for some years.

A planning statement for the scheme reads: “There is an ongoing and urgent need to meet the housing needs of students residing in the City and the proposed development will make a meaningful contribution to meeting that need on an existing student accommodation site.

“The scheme of development proposed responds to its surroundings in an appropriate scale and form and will bring a more human scale and vibrant character to the area.”