Student flats plan for former library to be decided

Plans to turn the former Nottingham Central Library into student flats and retail units are set to be given the go-ahead.

Nottingham City Council's planning committee is recommended by officers to approve a planning application on 20 May from Harington Students Ltd to convert the building in Angel Row into managed halls of residence for students.

The former library building, which was constructed between 1898 and 1899, started being used as a library in 1977. The site closed in March 2020 due to pandemic restrictions but never reopened.

According to planning documents, the proposed development could comprise of 162 student bedrooms as well as a takeaway and two retail units.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service previously said a new £10m library featuring a cafe, conference rooms, an immersive cinema room and more than 180,000 books opened in Collin Street in November 2023.

WA Architecture, on behalf of Harington Students Ltd, said the building would feature a sports bar, gym, spa, games room, karaoke room, golf simulator room, cinema and other entertainment spaces.

A report prepared by planning officers states the proposal would bring about the refurbishment of a "large, vacant building in the city centre that has remained empty for a number of years".

"The landscaping of the open area to the rear of the building would also be to the significant benefit to the appearance of this prominent frontage to Maid Marian Way, complementing the recent enhancement of public realm in the surrounding area," it added.

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