Plans have been unveiled for an 'eyesore' former toy shop building in an area residents say is 'changing a lot'. The new proposals look to demolish the large former World Wood Furniture warehouse in Sherwin Road, Lenton, and replace it with two buildings containing 34 flats in total.
The furniture business previously based at the premises, which was once occupied by the Jolly Giant toy store, left some time ago. Both of the new-build blocks would be three-storeys tall, with one building containing 19 one-bed apartments and four two-bed apartments and the other building providing 11 one-bed apartments.
Dave Turner, 53, and Angela Turner, 48, from Lenton, thought the prospective flats would bring more to the area than the current 'eyesore'. Mr Turner, who works in a warehouse, said: "It's been shut a while, and it has become a bit of an eyesore.
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"It's a very big student area, so I thought it might be more student flats. It's nice to know that something is being built other than student flats though.
"Students bring a lot of good, but more homes for locals are needed too. There's a lot of change at the moment in Lenton."
Mrs Turner, who recalled the building's former use as a toy store, said: "It is an eyesore, so knocking it down would be popular. I have lived in Lenton for 40 years and it used to be the Jolly Giant toy store before being a furniture shop.
"There's a housing crisis so we obviously need more homes, the only worry I can see is that it's very close to the school [Dunkirk Primary School, Abbey Campus]. It's just a car park at the minute."
There is currently a designated NCC Pay+Display parking at the front of the property. The fresh plan incorporates communal bin stores, 15 car parking spaces, bike storage areas, and hard and soft landscaping.
Mike Wilkinson, 55, an accountant from Lenton, said: "It's a good thing because this area is generally mostly student flats. There are not enough places
"If it is derelict why not build on it, I'd rather we keep building on brownfield land than on greenfield. If we can replace it with flats for people who need homes, why not?"
Galal Tofik, who works in Star Barbers Shop near to the warehouse, said: "It's definitely a good idea, it benefits the public and is good for everyone.
"It has been empty for a long time I think, to have people living there would be good for the area. There are lots of people in this country that need housing."
The scheme's flats would all be classed as affordable housing, with the applicant being Jigsaw Homes. The developers argued their plans were an 'effective' use of the site.
In a planning statement Halsall Lloyd Partnership, on behalf of GEDA Construction And Jigsaw Homes Midlands, said: "The proposal makes effective use of the disused land to provide a meaningful contribution towards the housing needs within Lenton and the city of Nottingham. The design takes on vernacular references from its immediate environment and introduces soft landscaping as a way to also create an attractive, modern development in its own right with a clear structure and identity.
"The development is a positive addition to the area as well as wider community." The planning application is pending consideration by Nottingham City Council."
Joanne Bonnington, Assistant Director of Development at Jigsaw Homes Group said: “Although the plans are in the early stages, we are keen to continue to provide much-needed new homes for both affordable rent and rent to buy; regenerating a former disused warehouse and driving investment into the local area.
"The development is planned to be sympathetic to the surrounding buildings and split into two small apartment blocks with adequate car parking and a sustainable travel plan to deliver modern and affordable city centre living.”
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