‘Nobody around here wants more student accommodation’
OBJECTION TO FLATS IN ‘ONE-SIDED’ COMMUNITY
The pandemic has really highlighted how few residents there are to support each other. Kate Loewenthal
CRITICS concerned about a block of flats proposed for a car wash site in Lenton say the area is already “swamped” with student accommodation.
The 32 student apartments, planned for Ilkeston Road on land used as a car sales forecourt, has triggered objection from residents who said the area was already “onesided” with students.
Kate Loewenthal, chair of the Lenton Drives and Neighbours Residents’ Association, said student accommodation ought to be built elsewhere.
“Nobody in the area living around here wants more student accommodation,” said Mrs Loewenthal, 50.
“It’s been highlighted more so than usual through the pandemic, the issues that it causes with the number of students in the area.
“There’s been a lot of news about the problems through this last year but these are problems we have been having for the last 20 years.
“The more students that are brought to the area the more it exacerbates the problems.”
She added: “We’re well aware that not all students cause problems.
“It’s not necessarily always about the problems, it’s about the balance of the community.
“No community can operate when it’s so heavily one-sided.
“The pandemic has really highlighted how few residents there are to support each other.”
Mrs Loewenthal, who lives in Lenton, said there was a “desire for the community in the area to work better.”
“It’s not necessarily against the students,” she said. “It’s more just pro-community cohesion and community balance and all the rest of it.”
Maya Fletcher, a representative of the Nottingham Action Group on HMOS (houses in multiple occupation), said: “That one on Ilkeston Road, I had a brief look at it, it does not exactly make me go ‘wow.’
“What I would like to see is decent purpose-built [development] on university land - and that is on the Jubilee Campus.
“Over at that end, where this proposal is, there’s a nucleus of a student village there.”
Dino Labbate, director of Swish Architecture Ltd, said: “Our client’s scheme seeks to develop an existing brownfield site, located in a highly sustainable urban location.
“The size and nature of the proposed units help to meet a growing need for purpose-built student accommodation in the area to keep up with increasing demand.
“Our design approach aims to create a high quality and considerate addition to the street scene with internal and external spaces that will create a positive sense of community and integration for the proposed and existing occupants.”
The Post has attempted to contact Opal Cars, based at the site, for comment.
The applicant is listed as Mr K Mohammad, of Hoperise Ltd.