People living in Beeston have hit out at plans for an eight-storey student accommodation block after it was recommended for approval. Some residents said instead of giving a the new building at the car park in Station Road the go-ahead, authorities should concentrate on providing properties for people who "need it the most".
Plans put forward by Cassidy Group would see the 419-bed development become the tallest building in Beeston. The ground floor would have a commercial use and a car park would be created.
Michael Allen, a 57-year-old landscape gardener, said he did not agree with the proposals. "It's too many," he told Nottinghamshire Live. "I know we have to have them somewhere but why don't they think about the homeless? I used to be homeless, I just got my own place.
Read more: Major plans for huge eight-storey building in Beeston
"Why don't they build flats or houses for people who need them the most? You could build some student and some normal flats. "Why when a piece of land comes up do we have to build a student block or a Lidl or an Aldi? There's nothing for the kids. Why don't they build an adventure park or something."
Another resident, who did not wished to be named, said: "I'm not sure it's very helpful for the town centre to accommodate this many students in one place." The 59-year-old retired woman added: "I'm not sure I'd want the town centre to be dominated by students."
Mavis Jones, 74, said: "I thought there was plenty, I'm surprised by that. I suppose they've got to have somewhere to live. It's seems like it's going to be big. It wouldn't bother me if it was student accommodation, we are getting a lot more of them."
The building would sit next to the Arc Cinema, which opened last year and is the centrepiece of the £50m landmark Beeston Square development. Sam Rose, of Cassidy Group, said: “We are excited to bring this student scheme to Beeston. Not only will students love living there – so close to the amenities they enjoy, as well as their university campus - but we are bringing a derelict site back to life.
“We feel the scheme fits well with the fantastic Beeston town centre that is emerging as a busy and exciting place to be, both day and night. We know from our research that Beeston is becoming a more desirable place for families and students to live.
“By creating sensitively designed student schemes with fabulous interiors like the one we are proposing for Beeston, we know we can not only create something that benefits the local area – but also an additional student environment where people really want to live.”
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