M&S site ‘not right’ for student accommodation
SHOPPERS HAVE THEIR SAY ON PLANS TO TRANSFORM FORMER HOMEWARE STORE IN LISTER GATE
SHOPPERS have mixed opinions on the transformation of a former Marks and Spencer Home store into student accommodation after it was given the green light by council planners.
The former Lister Gate shop, which has stood empty since last year, is set to be transformed into a 156-bedroom student block.
The building will also have two refurbished shop units on the ground and first floors.
Student accommodation will be behind and above these areas in the five and six-storey building, with parts of the first and second floors set to be demolished.
The move was widely welcomed as plans were approved and it was felt it would revitalise a shopping area which has become largely empty in recent years.
However, people in Nottingham city centre were not enthusiastic about the plans.
Tita Olajide, 44, who lives in Nottingham, said: “It’s so bad. The area is not like it was before.
“It’s Christmas and people like shopping all around and seeing shops closing is not good.
“I don’t think it’s suitable for student accommodation. I don’t think it’s right – this area isn’t OK for students.”
“Students need an area that’s very good for them to be relaxed and not have the public around like this.”
Annabelle Brookes, 22, from Chesterfield, a German and French student at the University of Nottingham, added: “I think there’s already a lot of student accommodation in Nottingham. It could be a good thing but there’s accommodation near the area.
“There’s nothing wrong with it being here – it’s a popular area.
“But there should be more help for the homeless instead – a space for them.”
Onycn Gayle, 43, a train driver from Aspley, said: “If they can’t get shops in there then they need something there, don’t they?
“It’s central so I would say it’s suitable for student accommodation. If I was a student I would live there.
“It’s not good but it’s better to convert it into something else rather than having an empty shop.”
Independent retail analyst Nelson Blackley said: “The approval of this accommodation will bring people into the city centre and, despite people having reservations over student developments, a lot of revitalising plans now include mixed-use accommodation.
“If you look into the past a lot of housing was above retail spaces but then retail took over, and now it’s heading back to how it was then rather than what we’ve seen for the last 15 years.”
The build will come at a cost of £16m and is expected to take two years to complete.
There will be 22 cluster flats consisting of four and five bedrooms, and 56 self-contained studios bedrooms with kitchenettes.
The application was granted planning permission by Nottingham City Council on December 1.