A large flats and housing project at the site of a demolished 'eyesore' could be the 'biggest change in decades' according to neighbours. The plan to turn the site of the demolished Forest Mill office building in Alfreton Road, Radford, into a 344-apartment student complex stretching across to Denman Street East, which at its tallest would be eight storeys, has been recommended for approval by Nottingham City Council.
If the plans are given the green light, there would be 790 bedrooms in the new block and 19 houses would also be built. The old five-storey office tower on the site, which was built in the 1960s and had been left vacant for decades, was knocked down in June 2019.
Local resident generally thought the construction would improve the currently empty land and surrounding area, with one stating it would be the biggest change to Radford in decades. Hassan Khalifa, 46, who works as a taxi driver and lives in Radford, said: "It is a very big thing for this area if it happens. I have lived here for 15 or 16 years and it would be the biggest change that I have ever seen.
Read more: Excitement over 'beautiful' project after demolition of Forest Mill 'eyesore'
"I was here when they were demolishing the old building, it's good something is happening now. It was a rubbish building that was there before.
"It is a bit of mess now it has gone, so tidying it would be good. It will be a very useful thing for the small businesses down this street [Alfreton Road]."
A Nottingham City Council report states the proposal has been recommended for approval to be granted by planning officials at a June 22 committee, subject to conditions. These include a financial contribution from developers of £987,890 towards off-site public open space and public realm improvements near the site, a financial contribution of £128,772 towards education, as well as 19 affordable houses and a financial contribution of £745,824 towards off-site affordable housing.
They would also have to contribute £133,480 towards local employment and training and provide of a student management plan, including a restriction on car ownership. The total financial contributions required from applicant Olympian Homes would be £1,995,966.
Lorna Burks, 32, a cleaner who lives along nearby Boden Street, said: "I suppose it would make it look nice, although over the years I have got used to the way it looks. It is quiet now that there is no one there, so that would change.
"But I think there are good and bad parts of it really. It will bring a lot of businesses more customers and there are a lot of shops around here.
"And then the homes that will be built along with the student flats will help as there are a lot of people unable to afford somewhere. I don't think many people will want it stay the same, I'm just so used to having nothing over there."
The plans had previously been praised as being a boost to the "growing hub" of independent businesses across from the site by the East Midlands Chamber. They were also welcomed by a number of local businesses, one of which called the designs for the project "beautiful".
Ali Raza, 61, a retiree from Radford added: "That's a lot of new people - Tesco will be happy. They need to get anything they can on it, it's a big space.
"There's lots of rubbish on it at the minute, with bottles and cans. It will make a lot of difference to the area and how it looks which should be positive."
The redevelopment would also have a commercial space on the ground floor, facing Alfreton Road and a gym for residents. Approval had previously been granted in 2018 to create an eight-storey building on the site, comprising commercial units and flats, with outline permission for a further 229 homes.
