Developer makes second bid to regenerate city centre site

A developer is making a second attempt to redevelop a Nottingham city centre building into residential accommodation.

Crowndale Properties has submitted a planning application to turn the first and second floors of 11-13 Thurland Street into 26 student studio apartments.

In October 2019, Nottingham City Council planning bosses threw out plans by Crowndale to to demolish buildings on Thurland Street in the city and turn the upper floors into student accommodation while improving shop fronts on the ground floor.

The developer wanted to build 42 one-bedroom and studio apartments on the upper floor of the building.

The upper floors of the building are currently used as a place of worship and associated hostel.

A new planning statement from Crowndale says: “Like most cities, the upper parts of commercial streets such as around this site suffer from ‘dead’ uppers – frequently these are ‘back of house’ functions above commercial uses. On a wide street such as Thurland Street, this effect is more pronounced. Residential use is usually seen as the best way to re-animate these elevations.

Internally the existing structure and external fabric, and specifically window positions have been maintained to serve open plan studio arrangements. Less ‘active’ living functions (bathing and dressing) are located away from the windows – this benefits the occupants but also maximises the opportunity for ‘active uppers’ improving the streetscape.”