Block of 191 flats near Nottingham railway station approved

The development site where 191 apartments have been given the green light

Plans for 191 flats near Nottingham railway station have been given the green light.

Approval came after a lengthy debate over Rainier Developments Ltd not having to make financial contributions to the local area.

The development steps down from eight storeys on the frontage to Crocus Street, to three storeys adjacent to Meadows Way.

The city council's planning committee approved the scheme on Wednesday.

The block includes 122 one-bedroom apartments, 69 two-bedroom apartments, and 26 parking spaces - of which four are disabled bays.

This was considered appropriate given the site's proximity to public transport links, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

Meadows councillor Michael Edwards speaking at the meeting on the appearance of the scheme

Councillor Michael Edwards, ward member for the site, said: "This is Crocus Square, this is special. When we have all this talk about gateways, this is a gateway to the city.

"Look at it. It is a bit big and a bit brutal. It's square. I think much more needs to be done to tackle that sense of its bulk and to reduce that sense of its brutality."

The main topic of the debate, the LDRS said, then turned to the fact the developer will not have to provide any financial contribution to the local area under a section 106 obligation.

The minimum amount that can be provided by a developer is set nationally and cannot be changed by councils, meaning they receive nothing if an assessment rules the development would be unviable in providing section 106 money.

The committee was told Rainier was anticipating a return of 17.5% to 20%.

A viability assessment was submitted by the developer, which was independently reviewed by a council-appointed assessor, and it was determined the scheme would be unviable if it had to provide section 106 contributions.

Labour councillors Pavlos Kotsonis, Sam Lux and chairman of the committee AJ Matsiko all raised the issue of the lack of contributions, saying it had become a "constant battle" and that it needed to be fought at planning committee level, and nationally.

However, on the advice of officers, councillors approved the plans by 10 votes to two.