Residents are divided over a new block of student flats that are being developed on the edge of Sneinton opposite the Motorpoint Arena. Development is under way for the original two-storey building, which is being transformed into a six-storey student block of flats, with nearly 200 bedrooms.
Planning permission for the project was granted in 2019, and steady progress on the building has been taking place in recent months. Many residents are thrilled about the development, and hope more students will bring more business to the area.
When asked about the development, midwife Mae Kelly, 23, of Sneinton, said: "I think it's fine. Students bring a lot of business to the local area, so I don't think it really bothers people generally."
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Nurse, Ash Bailey, 23, added: "I think it's good as well." Mum, Kirsty Stimpson, 28, of Sneinton, is also in favour of the development and feels the accommodation will help better connect Sneinton to the city. She said: "In my opinion it's a great thing, and it will make us more part of the city centre."
A wellbeing service worker who did not wish to be named said: "I don't know very much about the student accommodation, but Sneinton is a great area to live. It's close to town and there are quite a few shops and easy bus access."
When asked if she would want to live near the arena, the 27 year old said: "I think it would be alright, I don't think I would mind it, and you're in the city centre as well so you expect some noise."
However, whilst many residents are thrilled about what more students could mean for Sneinton, others have concerns that there is too much student accommodation in the city. Musician Moses Shadrock, 29, of Radford, said: "I don't know much about this development but it does feel like students are taking over Nottingham.
"Now a lot of students are coming here and it's hard for other people that aren't students to get places."
When asked about the new development, Sneinton resident, Annetta Veevers, 61, said: "I think they should turn it into social housing. Every empty building that comes into Nottingham is being turned into student accommodation, and Nottingham is overloaded with it.
"What about the people who are bred and brought up in Nottingham like myself that struggle to find housing. It's all around the city centre, there's student accommodation everywhere.
"I think this does need to be brought into the public eye, it's got to the point where it's horrific. Within a mile of the city centre, or even two miles, it's just all student accommodation and the private sector."
Her friend, Justin Sleater, 51, of Sneinton, added: "I don't have a problem with students at all", but says he does feel that there is "an abundance of student accommodation in Nottingham." Another Sneinton resident who did not wish to be named said: "I don't really care. I suppose everyone needs somewhere."
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