Student flats planned for Travelodge
APPLICATION FOR ‘TIRED’ CITY CENTRE SITE
PLANS to turn a hotel in Nottingham city centre into student accommodation have been revealed.
The Travelodge in Maid Marian Way will be converted into 121 flats for university students if the proposal gets the goahead from Nottingham City Council.
Planning documents say the development at the New City House building would provide “high-quality stylish student apartments” in the heart of Nottingham at a site which is currently looking “tired” and “in need of repair”.
The current hotel layout would be retained, with minimal changes to the outside of the building.
Self Architects, writing on behalf of applicants Nottingham Hotel Assets Limited and Nottingham Hotel Assets, state:
“By increasing the number of dwellings and therefore the number of residents in the local vicinity, the proposed development of this site will help to support the existing businesses and facilities thus ensuring their long term success, and the sustainability of this urban centre.
“The location of the site is inherently sustainable as it is already supported by local infrastructure and services.”
They add that no parking would be provided within the development to encourage the use of public transport. Parents dropping off or picking up students would be encouraged to use nearby pay and display car parks in Spaniel Way and Minerva House.
People in Nottingham city centre had mixed views on whether the development would be beneficial to the city.
Jackie Simpson, who lives in Radford, said: “We don’t need more student accomodation – we have lots already.
“I think enough is enough – there is so much near to me in Radford as well. You have fewer students actually living here now too, because of Covid, so it doesn’t make much sense.”
Meanwhile Paul Davies, who was in the city centre for work, said: “For me, students are what brings the money into the city and helps the economy here.
“In all honesty, if we didn’t have the students the city would be worse off. You don’t need as many office spaces now. If we bring these people into the city, they are more likely to stay and contribute later in life. We should be welcoming them.
“The more people we have living here, the more business for small retailers – it will help the businesses around here.”
Another man, who has lived in Nottingham all his life and wished to remain anonymous, said: “I’m not negative against students, but one of the biggest problems we’ve got in Nottingham is balance.
“I think we’ve made a big mistake by driving the elderly generation away from the city – they’d rather visit garden centres and restaurants outside of Nottingham, because there is more for them there.
“I think it enhances the student experience, too, to have more of a mix of people here. Yes it benefits the takeaways and nightclubs, but we’re at risk of becoming a student ghost town.
“The character of the city is going – it’s really sad to see.”
Reza Abraham said: “If it is being proposed it tells me there is a need for it here, which means it should go ahead and happen. If it’s good for the city it makes sense.”
Sade Hall told the Post: “I think there’s quite a lot of hotels in Nottingham already and it would be good because there is a lot of students and a lot of them might not be able to afford to live in non-purposebuilt accomodation.
“There’s the Premier Inn, the Plaza Hotel which are so close. So I don’t see why not – this generation is for the future of Nottingham.”
The application will now be considered by Nottingham City Council’s planning committee.