Decision details

Conversion of existing college building to student accommodation comprising 162 bedrooms including external alterations

Central College Nottingham, High Road, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, NG9 4AH

This application was brought before the Committee having been deferred at the meeting on 7 July 2021.

There were a number of late items noted by the Committee including 21 objections to the application.

Mr Peter Briggs, objecting and Mr Tony Greaves, objecting, addressed the Committee prior to the general debate.

Before the debate began, the Committee received legal advice.

The debate included concerns regarding the lack of car parking spaces at the development, the possibility of cars being parked by residents from the development on already congested streets, the level of noise that would be created during building works and the possibility of disturbances and anti-social behaviour from students once they were resident.  The changes to the application that had been made to increase the number of car parking spaces from 15 to 25 were noted, but were considered inadequate given the size of the development.

Discussion progressed on to the scale of the proposed development and how it would overlook neighbouring properties causing a loss of privacy and amenity.  There was concern that the number of flats would mean that there would inevitably be negative impact on neighbours because of noise. 

RESOLVED that planning permission be refused, with the precise wording of the refusal to be delegated to the Chair of Planning Committee in agreement with the Head of Planning and Economic Development.

Reason

The development by virtue of its proximity to existing residential neighbours would result in a substantial level of noise and disturbance which would cause a significant loss of amenity.  Furthermore, insufficient parking has been provided on site which would result in parking problems in the immediate area.  Accordingly, the proposal is contrary to the aims of Policy 10 of the Broxtowe Aligned Core Strategy (2014), Policy 17 of the Part 2 Local Plan (2019) and the NPPF (2021).