Plans for a 12-storey, 702-bed purpose-built student development at Nottingham’s Island Quarter have been given the go-ahead by Nottingham City Council
The approved plans for Nottingham’s Island Quarter student scheme feature an up-to-12-storey, 702-bed purpose-built student development, with blocks dedicated to a range of accommodation types including studios and cluster living.
The approved plans feature multi-media lounges and co-working spaces, as well as gaming zones and quiet areas for study and relaxation.
The Island Quarter masterplan, which received outline planning approval in April 2019, has been designed with a full lifecycle of uses, including hotels and hospitality, office space and community living.
Recent changes to the plan were made in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, adding 10,000 sqm more green spaces to the site and rethinking the street plan to create an ‘urban river’.
To help accelerate the development’s progress, The Island Quarter has been included in the city council’s Levelling Up Fund bid, which is designed support ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects that will boost local economies.
The plans were drawn up by DAY Architectural for The Conygar Investment Company PLC.
‘A real need for quality student beds’
Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “We’re delighted that the planning committee has approved the plans for the proposed student accommodation on The Island Quarter.
“Nottingham is a world-renowned university city, and the student population is growing rapidly to reflect that. Add in the demand from second- and third-year students to remain in PBSA, and it is clear there is a real need for quality student beds in the city.
“This element of the scheme really supports our plans for intergenerational living across the site.
“One of the biggest impacts of the pandemic has been that people of all ages are reassessing their relationship with where they live, and we want to create places and spaces where people can live, work and thrive.”
Richard Watson, of Conygar, said: “The PBSA on The Island Quarter site forms an integral part of what we are trying to achieve with the development.
“In the wake of Covid-19, it has never been more important to encourage healthy, sustainable and resilient living, and this element of the scheme will help in creating a true community around the site.
“The reimagined masterplan creates active, liveable and safe spaces that will connect the various elements of the scheme with each other and, more importantly, with the area’s existing vibrant communities.”
Tom Exell, director of architecture at DAY Architectural, added: “This will be a unique PBSA offering in a highly competitive market, with a real focus on high quality design and student wellbeing across all aspects.
“We’re delighted to have achieved planning approval and excited to see the development move onto the next stage.”
Work on the new accommodation is likely to start on site shortly and be available for students from the start of the 2023/24 academic year.
