COUNCILLORS WANT DEVELOPER TO COME UP WITH A BETTER DESIGN

RESIDENTS living on a private estate in Nottingham are hoping changes can be made to plans for a new student block after a decision on approving them was delayed.

- By JOE LOCKER

Applicant David Pownall submitted plans to build a four-storey block off Castle Boulevard, in The Park estate, and they had been tipped for approval at a Nottingham City Council planning committee meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by dozens of Park residents, who have been calling for the 137-bed scheme to be rejected. Councillors were informed by officers that a rejection would be "challenging" to defend at an appeal. They opted to defer the scheme based on design concerns.

Speaking to the public gallery, Councillor Graham Chapman (Lab) said the council had been trying to build an "oversupply" of student accommodation to bring more homes back into the market for families. He said the council had been just about keeping up with demand, and asked residents in the public seating area to think about the aim to get students out of family housing.

However, he said: "My other issue is to do with the design. I wouldn't say it is spectacular. I would like to see some more sophisticated brickwork."