‘Why does every empty bit of land have to be houses?
ST ANN’S RESIDENTS CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE PLANS TO TRANSFORM PRECINCT
RESIDENTS in St Ann’s have voiced their concerns over plans to possibly turn the Robin Hood Chase Precinct into homes – with some saying that it should be “anything but houses”.
No final decision has yet been made on whether the precinct will turn into a housing development and there is no update as of yet on what the precinct will become. But news of a potential change has spurred several residents to think about the area’s future.
The Post spoke to residents about how they felt about the precinct being demolished and what they would like to see instead.
Arlo Simpson, 25, from Sneinton, said:“st Ann’s is such a diverse area. They need businesses and precincts and the advice centre. Once you start to take those things away, they’ll be trouble and more crime. Yes, we need more social housing but if these are houses, will they be more affordable? If not, then there’s no point.”
Claydon George, 56, a delivery driver who used to live in St Ann’s, said: “I know so many people who the St Ann’s Advice Centre has helped.
“Instead of houses, why can’t they extend that? Why does every bit of empty land and every empty building have to be houses? I don’t think houses would be a good idea. I’d rather see anything but houses. Invest in communities.”
Rowan Norris, a carer from Mapperley, agreed.
“It’s difficult because yes, we need houses but at the same time, I just can’t see houses being built there. It’s just a bit random and I’d prefer it be local businesses and a food bank like what it is now. Investing in those places will be beneficial for the area. I can’t imagine people in the area are happy about it being houses.”
Community workers and residents in St Ann’s had previously said they weren’t happy about plans to turn the Robin Hood Chase precinct into houses.
Hya Francis-watson is the project manager at the Chayah Development Project, which is based in Robin Hood Chase said: “There is some structural damage around here but getting rid of it isn’t fair. At night time, here, it’s dead but in the summer, we put chairs out and feed people, we put music on when there’s events. We do what we can. They [the city council] should invest in the area.”
Previously, Councillor Linda Woodings, Nottingham City Council’s portfolio holder for housing and planning,csaid no decision had been made yet.
“Nottingham City Council has accepted grant funding from the One Public Estate’s Brownfield Land Release Fund for three sites across the city which could help to prepare the land at these sites for much needed housing,” she said. “No decision about the future of these buildings has yet been taken. The funding could help towards the costs of site clearance, should it be decided that this is the best option for the site, once all the options have been explored and assessed.”
The city council is still awaiting an update on the precinct.