Worries over future of city centre pub after student scheme gets green light

A popular city centre pub and live music venue says it is concerned for its future after plans for a new student accommodation scheme have been given the go-ahead by Nottingham City Council – over a year after they were first submitted.

MLS Limited will change the upper floors of 104-106 Upper Parliament Street from a social club and dance studio into 26 student studio flats.

However, after being consulted over the plans, several objections were raised.

In response to the proposals, one said: “The Proposed plans could result in a loss of a public house which is a well known live music venue that provides a social asset and popular tourist attraction to the city. Soundproofing would not be possible. The noise generated from the public house would impact upon the amenities of future occupiers of the proposed PBSA scheme.”

Another said that it would be “distressing” for the social club to find another venue.

Plans for the scheme were first submitted to the council in October 2023 when a 29-flat scheme was tabled. These have now been revised, with planning bosses giving the green light.

A planning statement prepared by Franklin Ellis for the original scheme said it was being brought forward to: “regenerate and reinvigorate an under-utilised site within a key regeneration zone in Nottingham City Centre; make a positive contribution to local heritage via the renovation of the existing building; to sustain/preserve, restore and re-invigorate to ensure its long term and appropriate use, safeguarding the building for the future; to provide much needed high quality Purpose Built Student Accommodation in an appropriate location; to improve the sustainable credentials of the existing building – improving its energy performance with sustainable interventions which are sympathetic to its historic status.”