UK: Vita Group has submitted plans to transform part of Nottingham’s Victorian Guildhall in to a major PBSA development.
If successful, the plans will see Nottingham’s Grade II listed Guildhall – built in 1887 – along with former fire and police stations, converted into a 967-room student scheme.
As well as the accommodation – which would include a residents’ gym, dance studio, study spaces, cinema and games rooms – the plans also include a public food hall where independent food businesses could serve up to 500 diners.
Vita Student will pioneer its new student accommodation concept: House of Social, which offers high-end sharing apartments designed to retain second- and third-year students in the city.
The project would be the second Vita Student development in Nottingham following its Station Street development.
The site sits within Shakespeare Street, North Church Street and South Sherwood Street. Vita said its project would complement plans already approved for a hotel on the Guildhall site.
Mark Oakes, chief commercial officer for Vita Group, said: “A vastly underutilised redevelopment opportunity, Guildhall has the potential to be one of Nottingham’s major landmarks once again, bringing significant investment to the city and a historically important building back to life. The plans aim to create best-in-class student accommodation with outstanding amenities, whilst also easing pressures on local housing stock.
“The Market Food Hall will create a go-to destination for all the city to enjoy, providing the perfect backdrop for exciting new independent restaurateurs to bring their new ventures to people across the region,” he added.
