Debenhams could now be student accommodation

LUXURY APARTMENTS WAS ORIGINAL PLAN FOR ‘COMPLICATED’ SITE

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

NOTTINGHAM’S Debenhams building could be turned into student accommodation as developers say they continue to work on plans for the “complicated site’

The historic building has been empty since Nottingham’s branch of Debenhams closed in May 2021 as part of the national retailer's liquidation process.

The Post previously revealed that after years of waiting, the site's owners had revealed their ambition to transform the space into luxury apartments. It has now emerged that those apartments could be used for student accommodation, though the site's owners say all plans are at an early stage and that talks with Nottingham City Council continue.

The site’s potential use as student accommodation is confirmed on a Nottingham City Council map charting all past, current and future Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) projects. For the Debenhams site, the website suggests a mixture of cluster and studio student flats could be housed there and the project could be ready for the academic year starting in September 2027.