Defence Online

More than 100 new flats could transform a prominent site in Nottingham’s historic Lace Market, if planners give the go-ahead.Abode Nottingham Ltd has submitted a planning application to build 115 apartments on High Pavement and Short Hill.The scheme would involve the conversion and restoration of four listed buildings and the development of two new, five and seven-storey buildings, all around a central courtyard.The development includes the Grade II-listed building 9-10 Short Hill – former storage buildings which were most recently used before the Second World War, and 54-56 High Pavement, an office block currently occupied by businesses.The developer has not confirmed what will happen to those occupants as part of the scheme.The 115 apartments would range from one-bedroom to three-bed units, offering private rented accommodation.Pedestrian access would be from High Pavement, with vehicular access from Hollowstone into an underground car park.Developers say the new-build elements are designed as a “contemporary interpretation of the Lace Market aesthetic”, with a brick façade and large, vertically proportioned windows and glazed inset balconies.As part of the proposals, 10 Short Hill would be demolished, but the façade would be retained, and extensions at the rear of 56 High Pavement would also be knocked down.A similar proposal put forward by Studon Holdings, for 98 flats at the site, was refused in 2010.City planning officers had cited that the height, mass and layout of the former scheme would obstruct existing views of the Lace Market and the skyline from the south, and compete with St Mary’s Church as a principal landmark building.Ken Brand, vice-president of Nottingham Civic Society, also had concerns about preserving the character of the area.In July, the civic society voiced similar concerns about a separate development, from Monk Estates, of 85 state-of-the-art one and two-bedroom flats at the site of the former Shell petrol station, opposite BBC Nottingham.To view the planning application, search for 16/02249/PFUL3 on the planning section of Nottingham City Council’s website.