Plans revealed for 'Nottingham's tallest building' which will tower over Victoria Centre flats

Plans revealed for 'Nottingham's tallest building' which will tower over Victoria Centre flats

Plans have been revealed for a towering 40-storey skyscraper in Nottingham which could become the tallest building in the city - it would house more than 1,500 students and has prompted mixed feelings from residents.

While not quite a planning application as of yet, Code Students, which operates 'luxury' student accommodation in Leicester and Coventry, has revealed its plans as part of a screening opinion request to seek opinions of Nottingham City Council's planners.

The current designs have been drawn by Staniforth Architects, a Midlands-based architect which is currently involved in the Lace Market Point development on the BBC Island.

Planning research group UrbInfo Nottingham said the plans for the former Base 51 site off Huntingdon Street and Glasshouse Street would make the skyscraper the city's "tallest building".

The so-called Victoria Works development would be 40 storeys in height, towering above the Victoria Centre flats, and house more than 1,500 students.

Comparatively, the Victoria Centre flats have just over 20 floors, whereas The Gherkin in 30 St Mary Axe, London, has 41 storeys.

Cawarden is currently demolishing an existing building in a bid to open up space for such a development.

The Victoria Centre is currently the tallest building in the city, standing at 256ft, after being built in the early 1970s.

City residents expressed mixed feelings about the proposals.

Mandy McDonald, who has lived in nearby St Ann's for the past 20 years, told Nottinghamshire Live: "I'm in two minds.

"We do need more skyscrapers as people need places to live and they take up less land. Using the land, using that space, will be good. It is better than leaving it to waste.

"But then on the other hand we have got enough [student accommodation] as it is. I think it could well be an eyesore."

Alice Beal, 34, who lives in The Meadows, added: "We have plenty [of student blocks].

"The height is wrong and its purpose is unnecessary. We live in The Meadows and we are noticing the HMRC building and the skyline is getting very high.

"We cannot see the castle any more. There are too many new buildings, we should be reopening empty shops and the lovely older buildings.

"The height is wrong and its purpose is unnecessary. We live in The Meadows and we are noticing the HMRC building and the skyline is getting very high.

"We cannot see the castle any more. There are too many new buildings, we should be reopening empty shops and the lovely older buildings.

Written by Joseph Locker - Nottingham Post