A major refurbishment is planned for a prominent but 'crumbling' Nottingham city centre building. Portland House in Carrington Street, Nottingham city centre, was initially built as a five-storey hotel above ground floor shops in the late 19th century to serve train station users, with the shops now occupied by Carringtons chippy, Greggs, and bar Cured.
It is currently used as accommodation for 55 students, described in planning documents as "very basic". But the new owner of the building is looking for permission to use the rooms as short term lets or Airbnb-type accommodation for students or tourists, in order to fill vacancies in the middle of the academic year and fund a three-year "major refurbishment".
This refurbishment, which according to planning documents would make repairs to crumbling stonework and windows, is aimed at keeping students housed for longer periods by updating the "very dated" rooms. The property lies within the Nottingham Canal Conservation Area, but is not listed.
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In a planning document, Zenith Planning and Design, on behalf of applicant Warjinder Khamba, said: "The proposed use is compatible with the mixed-use character of the Conservation Area and is in keeping with the history of the building as a hotel. The Local Plan encourages development in the city centre relating to tourism and partial use of the building as an Airbnb-type letting accommodation would help to fulfil this role.
"Given that the accommodation will only be used for short term lets it is not considered that the shared use of the building is incompatible with its continued use as student accommodation. This would be for a temporary period after which it would revert to student accommodation once the proposed refurbishment is complete." The application is pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.
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