Plans for student flats in Victorian office block

The three-storey block was owned by Nottingham City Council before it was sold for about £350,000 in 2024

Plans have been submitted to turn a Victorian office block and workshop in Nottingham into student accommodation.

The three-storey block, on Ayr Street, was owned by Nottingham City Council before it was sold for about £350,000 in 2024 as part of the authority's drive to bring down its debt.

Student Lodge, which operates student accommodation in the Radford and Hyson Green areas of the city, has now submitted plans for 33 student studios in the building.

Much of the building is now uninhabitable having been left to deteriorate.

The building was built during Nottingham's 19th Century industrial expansion, when a number of lace-making factories were created.

Upon the decline of the lace industry, the building was converted for use by smaller businesses as office and workshop space.

Planning documents say the area around the site includes private residential dwellings along with a number of larger purpose-built and converted student accommodation blocks.

"The proposed use of the building aims to enhance Ayr Street by improving the perception of the building," the documents state.

"The proposals are the sensitive conversion of the existing building to student accommodation utilising the increased headroom at each floor level to create more spacious studios.

"No car parking is planned given the nature of the use and public transport is excellent within a two-minute walk of the site.

"Cycle storage will be created within the basement area."