Developers have been accused of 'destroying' Nottingham's history amid plans to cut through caves to prop up a massive student building. Plans for the former Nottingham Fire and Police station to be replaced with a huge 987-bed student complex have proved controversial after it was revealed works would have to take place in a historic cave network to support it.
Vita Group, who are planning the 12-storey tower, are now looking to prop up the tower by placing columns into the ground and cutting through a more than 150-year-old cave network. Conservationists have said they are 'extremely concerned' about the impact the works could have on the cave system on eastern part of the site, which forms part of the Guildhall's Grade II heritage listing.
The 'House of Social' accommodation would be constructed above the caves, with a piled foundation planned to distribute the load of the building via columns driven through the cave system and into the bedrock below. Vita Group have said the caves may not be capable of supporting the size of the tower without the works taking place.
