Street traders are concerned work to construct a new student block on the site of a Poundland store in Nottingham could have "massive effects" on business. Proposals show a towering new apartment block could be built on top of the discount store in Lower Parliament Street.
After it was revealed an investor had taken over ownership of the building, plans now show developer Maven Property is hoping to create 59 individual bedrooms and 51 studio flats. The developer says the building will be complimented with a rooftop garden featuring solar panels. Nottingham City Council says the existing building is not "desirable and attractive" and therefore the development will be designed in such a way as to make it more visually appealing.
Maven says: "This is an opportunity to increase student accommodation provision in a central location of Nottingham, vacate existing house-shares for families to re-inhabit, replace the blank facades of the existing building with high quality architecture, improve the sustainability credentials, decrease running costs, and invigorate the Clinton Street markets."
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Shoppers and traders shared their thoughts on the proposals and fear business may be impacted if plans are to be approved. Jason Coxson, 55, a fruit and veg trader, said: "The stall is my brother's business, this will definitely have massive effects on us.
"We aren’t big enough for customers to follow us, people come on their way to work or back from work, if we aren’t here they won’t come. We have lots of repeat customers and passing trade.
"They’ll put scaffolding up won’t they and that will be us gone. Potentially long-term it could help with having people living just up there but students don’t really spend much anyway.
"Covid had a massive effect on us, I don’t know how much more we can take. If we take a week off, it takes us two weeks to get the customers back, so if we aren’t here for a year or however long the work takes then, God knows what will happen."
And Phillip Sanders, 37, echoed similar concerns. He said: "Don’t you think there’s enough student flats in Nottingham already. I feel for the businesses around here and how they will be effected.”
A Poundland spokeswoman added: "All of the feedback received was considered and has helped to shape the final scheme proposals which have been submitted to the planning authority.
"There is still clear demand for student accommodation in Nottingham and the city centre is the best location for this as it ensures easy access for students to all services and facilities. There is a growing student accommodation population in Nottingham and provision of purpose built student accommodation in city centre locations helps to free up traditional housing for other residents in and around the city.
"In terms of the market traders, there is a commitment to continue to work closely with council officers and market traders to ensure the re-provision of facilities for market traders along Clinton Street East and Clinton Street West within the proposals. The consideration of the pedestrianised side streets and enhancement for market traders already forms part of the proposals submitted."
