Offices proposed for Nottingham bomb site
Plans have been submitted for a new office scheme on one of the final undeveloped bomb sites in the centre of Nottingham.
Developers Studon Holdings, a Leicester-based investment firm, have submitted plans for a new office building on the empty site next to 54-56 High Pavement in the prestigious Lace Market area of Nottingham. The Lace Market district is a local conservation area in the city that is dominated by expensive apartments and bespoke commercial offices. The area suffered from heavy bombing during World War II.
The scheme involves the refurbishment of existing offices along with the development of the vacant site adjacent to 9-11 Shorthill that will in total provide 104,549 sq ft of gross floor space. No’s 54-56 High Pavement are currently in commercial, serviced office use, though accommodating a significant element of vacant floor space, whilst premises at 9-12 Short Hill, formerly in commercial/industrial use, are now vacant. Some of the existing buildings involved in the scheme are listed and as the site is also of archaeological importance planning approval is not certain. Studon Holdings have previously submitted plans for the site to be redeveloped as a residential scheme. The full planning documentation for the new office block is available here.
Architects for the scheme are Re-format and they have proposed a design whereby a podium is created and the bulk of the buildings are then mounted on it in visually distinct elements complete with floor to ceiling glazing overlooking London Road (pictured). Inside the scheme will be a new urban courtyard, something seen in many of the other buildings already in the area, with a glazed atrium adjoining it. The scheme includes underground parking for 79 cars.
The proposed scheme has received mixed reviews from locals. Some describe the offices as being “yet another box disaster” while others have said “I really like the look of this development. The High Pavement frontage is in keeping with the other buildings but with a modern and contemporary look. I love the glazed boxes facing the BBC Island.”
Rental prices for the speculative development have not yet been published.
A decision from the planning committee is expected in the near future.
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