Flats scheme drawn up for church site
DEMOLITION WOULD CLEAR WAY FOR 24 APARTMENTS
NEIGHBOURS have spoken about their concerns over plans to demolish a church and build a block of council flats in its place.
Proposals have been submitted by Nottingham City Council to knock down the closed United Reformed Church and replace it with 24 onebed apartments, which would be allocated for people waiting on the council’s housing list.
The finished building would be a mixture of two and three storeys in height, according to the plans.
John Buj has lived next to the Southchurch Drive church for the last 50 years and says he has reservations about the plan.
He said: “Obviously it’s going to bring an issue for me.
“The worry is that someone who moves in creates a problem – with loud music or shouting or something like that.
“The other concern we have is there is a cut-through behind that people use now that will bring its own problems if it becomes housing. I’ve seen it be used for drug dealing myself already.
“I don’t think the building should be three storeys high, either. The current plans are a real concern for me and for everyone else living here.”
Stefan Wronski, who also lives on Southchurch Drive, said: “I personally like the church there. I am a Christian so I would like to see it stay there.
“I am not keen on the idea of it being replaced with flats. That can bring with it many problems for people already living here.”
Another Southchurch Drive resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Of course you are going to worry about these things but it would make sense.
“People need housing and the church isn’t really used anymore. It’s a great location – right next to the shops. So I can see why people would want to live there.
“I think it would be better than what it is being used for now, which is nothing as far as I’m aware. Better to make use of it.”
Nottingham City Homes has appointed architects Player Roberts Bell to draw up plans and will be filing a separate application to start that workc once the demolition is approved.
Once completed the new homes would be owned by the city council and operated by Nottingham City Homes.
A council spokesperson said: “We have applied for planning permission to demolish the current empty church and this is just another step in the build process.”
They added: “A separate planning application will then be submitted for any future plans to build muchneeded, good-quality, new homes on this site.”