Plans to tear down a Nottingham pub to make way for more student flats have been scrapped. A scheme was proposed in September to demolish The Foresters Inn on Huntingdon Street, behind the Victoria Centre, in order to replace it with a six-and-a-half storey building hosting 22 student apartments and a shop on the ground floor.
But now Nottingham City Council has confirmed that on December 8 the plan was withdrawn by the applicant Notts City Living Ltd. Currently the ground floor pub is vacant after being closed down due to lack of business and the upper floors are currently let out as serviced apartments.
The housing above the pub suffers from cold and damp and is not cost-effective due to poor energy performance, according to planning documents. The developers behind the project previously said the building would not be suitable for conversion.
Read more: 'Over capacity' Nottingham GP surgery only able to help with emergencies due to high volume of calls
Those behind the project said it would "provide a modern, healthy and comfortable living environment" before withdrawing it from the planning process. In a planning document, Spark Design And Planning, on behalf of applicant Notts City Living Ltd, said: "The current property is significantly under–utilised. The ground floor is not fit for purpose and is not suited for conversion without major construction and demolition works.
"The existing accommodation, despite the owner’s best efforts, is cold and suffers from damp. It is expensive to run due to poor energy performance characteristic of these types of buildings. Problems with converting older problems are well known.
"Over 50 percent of retrofit projects fail to deliver intended results. The new development will provide a modern, healthy and comfortable living environment. The design will add to the vibrancy of the area and uplift the street scene.
"Students and city visitors will welcome the new accommodation. The ground floor retail unit will provide jobs and offer valuable products and services to the local area. The area is characterised by similar very successful developments all of which are being used to their fullest potential."
Conservationists have previously spoken of their concerns about a 'wall of high rise buildings' to the city's east side, between the city centre, St Ann's and Sneinton Market. According to the Whatpub.com website, The Foresters Inn was formerly a Shipstones tied house, with three rooms.
Why not sign up to one of our newsletters by clicking here to keep up with all the latest news from across Nottinghamshire.
- Police release image of man they want to trace after football match brawl in Nottingham city centre
- 'Over capacity' Nottingham GP surgery only able to help with emergencies due to high volume of calls
- Clifton neighbour heard 'loud scream' after man taken to hospital with stab wounds in Nottingham
- Man taken to hospital with stab wounds after reports of serious assault in Clifton
- The latest crime news from Nottinghamshire Live
