Plans for more student accommodation to be built in shadow of two huge city blocks have been met with surprise by local residents. A patch of land off Faraday Road, Lenton could be developed into a three-storey purpose built Student block of six apartments for more than 20 students, if plans are approved.
The site would be eclipsed by the large 405-bed Unite Students complex behind it which was given permission back in 2004, as well as the neighbouring and ongoing redevelopment of a former Derby Road car showroom site into a new 700-bed student flats Unite Students block.
Local residents were surprised there was still demand for more accommodation in the area, which is heavily populated by students. Peter Malew, 32, who lived in Lenton for two years as a student at Nottingham Trent University before moving to The Meadows, said: "I’m quite surprised they are building more and more here. I lived here for two years as a student and I thought that enough had been built in that time.
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"Flats in Lenton seem more expensive to rent so that might due to the demand. But I've seen flats that are empty so I'm surprised there is a need for more.
"It should be up to the locals to say whether they want more or not. Students do bring a lot of money and are good for the city, but it's a lot of change in a short time."
Jan Davis, 83, who is retired and from Nottingham, said: "I can see a lot has changed in Lenton. It seems like only students really live in this area.
"It doesn't look like much is going on [on the land] with it, so at least it will be used. I think a lot of people can't believe that more housing is needed for students."
Nottingham City Council has previously explained Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) should free up family homes in Nottingham. In 2021 the city council found Nottingham would need 5,000 extra rooms to be built by 2024/25 to deal with increases in demand.
A University of Nottingham student, who lives in Lenton and did not want to be named, added: "There’s loads of student accommodation around in Lenton, it has probably changed a lot for people from here. I would have thought there would be enough [for students] if you take housing into account as well as halls.
"There’s a lot of demand for student housing but I thought Nottingham would have enough already."
The current application is a resubmission of a previous application, which was conditionally approved for a three-storey block of nine apartments. The developer said the plan would help free up more family homes locally.
Applicant Swish Architecture Ltd, in a planning document, said: "The scheme will enhance the appearance and quality of the existing site and is a significant improvement on the existing state of the site. The proposed scheme will meet the needs of the local area in supplying a variety of apartment sizes in one block that will reduce the need for private family homes to be converted.
"Preserving the privacy and outlook of neighbouring properties has been carefully considered and adequate parking has been provided for the new apartments, both vehicle and cycle in this highly sustainable area." The planning application is pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.
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