Green light for student scheme at former landmark retail store

Plans to turn the former Marks & Spencer store in Nottingham city centre into a student scheme have been given the green light.

The plans, revealed in January, will see Hunter UK Retail partially demolish the ground to second floors of 22-26 Lister Gate and develop a 5/6 storey new build residential scheme with two new retail units.

The scheme will include 56 studio apartments and 100 cluster flats.

The building has been vacant since Marks & Spencer closed its homewares department at the building in March of last year.

A planning statement prepared by law firm Freeths reads: “The scheme maximises the opportunity of regenerating a brownfield site within the heart of the city centre.

“As existing, Stanford Street is exposed to the servicing yard of Lister Gate properties, together with modern extensions which have a negative impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area.

“The development repairs the street-scene with a scheme that balances the need to be sensitive to the scale and character of surrounding development, whilst making best use of land.”