Virgin island traffic fears
MIXED OPINION OVER PLANS FOR 82 NEW HOMES OFF DALESIDE ROAD ROUNDABOUT
RESIDENTS are divided over plans to build a housing development on the side of a busy road.
Proposals for 82 houses and flats on the site of the Diamond Plaza offices off Daleside Road, between Sneinton and Colwick, were unveiled earlier this week.
The proposal comes after Virgin Media announced in 2018 it would cut its Nottingham-based workforce in a shake-up of its regional customer operations hubs.
Two interlinked buildings are located off the Daleside Road plot – and one of the properties houses Virgin Media’s technical equipment which supplies the East Midlands region with fibre optic broadband.
Reaction from local residents and business owners to the plans has been mixed.
Jeff Johns, a 45-year-old showroom assistant at Stonebridge Fireplaces on Daleside Road, said: “It would be good for us as it’ll mean extra business. Hopefully they will want fireplaces.”
Louise Smith, who works at Daleside Cafe, said she “wouldn’t have thought” traffic would be badly affected.
However, some concerns were raised over potential problems at the roundabout near Sneinton, which also accommodates traffic from East Point Retail Park.
“It’s busy enough [on this road] already, especially during rush hour, so I understand if there are worries about traffic,” said Mr Johns.
“Although I suppose it handles traffic all right at the moment and it won’t be too many new homes. Hopefully the road works will be looked into.”
A 73-year-old Sneinton resident, who didn’t wish to be named, said he expected to see “massive tailbacks” near the roundabout. “They have got to get in and out somewhere,” he said.
“If you’re moving in as a family I wouldn’t want to bring kids down here with all this traffic. I just can’t see it happening with the amount of traffic coming down this road.”
Tim Douglas, 30, who lives nearby, added: “There’s not really any public transport round here. I think the location needs to be back further as you wouldn’t want to look out your window and see this.”
Speaking previously, Allan Fisher, director of development and assets at Nottingham Community Housing Association, which is behind the redevelopment plans, said the project would revamp a “currently disused area of the city”.
“If planning is approved this will be a great opportunity for Nottingham residents to access affordable accommodation close to the city centre,” he said.