Huge Guildhall student scheme takes significant step forward

Part of the caves beneath the site

Plans to create a huge mixed-use scheme on the site of Nottingham’s Grade II listed Guildhall have taken a step forward after a planning application was submitted to the city council for piling works to start.

Miller Birch, which owns the site in the city centre, has revealed plans to undetaken piling works for the scheme, which will plans to create a huge mixed-use scheme on the site of Nottingham’s Grade II listed Guildhall, because the building sits on one of Nottingham’s vast cave systems.

A planning statement with the application reads: “A piled foundation solution for the scheme has been selected based on the size and form of the proposed building, anticipated ground conditions which were determined from the Phase 1 Desk-top Study and BWB’s previous experience with construction in this area of Nottingham city centre.

“A piled solution allows building loads to be transmitted to the bedrock below the level of the caves, avoiding the surcharge loads associated with shallow foundations, which the caves may not be capable of supporting.

“The 12 storey House of Social block will be constructed over the caves. The piles for the new building will need to avoid the caves wherever possible to reduce the level of harm to the listed asset as much as is feasible.”

The caves which run beneath the site are included on the national list as part of the entry for the grade II listed Guildhall which is situated on the corner of Burton Street and South Sherwood Street

BWB has developed the piling proposals in consultation with archaeologists from York Archaeology and heritage consultants at Turley.

Miller Birch is also keen to explore possibilities for the caves beneath the former Central Fire and Police Stations to be open to the public.

The planning statement adds: From evidence of signs, rope handrails, etc, which are currently present in the caves,
the applicant believes that tours may have taken place previously.”

The student scheme will be owned and managed by Vita Group if the plans for the site, which were submitted in August, are granted consent.

The Guildhall was built in 1887 and was once home to Nottingham’s Magistrates’ Court.