Walsingham Planning have led the transformation from Car Dealership to Development Brief to Planning Permission for a Large Mixed Use Office Development in Central Nottingham

Acting for Oakhill Group (part of Hartwell plc.) Walsingham Planning has obtained outline planning permission for a major mixed use office development on the edge of Nottingham city centre. The site, a former Ford car dealership is located close to the city’s main railway station and adjacent to the Nottingham – Beeston Canal, and within walking distance of the city centre.

Walsingham Planning were initially engaged to discuss development possibilities for the site, which led to negotiations with adjoining landowners (including the City Council Estates Department) and ultimately the production of an informal development brief for the area, the Eastcroft Development Brief, which envisages substantial new mixed use development of office floorspace, together with residential and commercial uses on the site and adjoining land.

The Practice then co-ordinated the planning process working with Nottingham architects CGMS, transport consultants, environmental consultants and hydrologists in order to address various detailed technical issues.

The final mixed use scheme that emerged provides 18,775 m² of office floorspace arranged in three connected buildings and 1,928 m² of commercial floorspace including retail, restaurants and bars fronting onto the canal side.

The scheme also includes a new pedestrian footbridge over the canal linking the site with London Road and the railway station beyond.

Although the application was submitted in outline, because of the site’s prominence and the need to protect historic views, substantial illustrative material was produced to support the application and a number of presentations were made to the Nottingham City Council Design Review Panel before the Council resolved to grant consent. Walsingham Planning then dealt with the negotiations on the Section 106 Agreement on behalf of the client.

Development Teams, Planning Applications