PLANNING COMMITTEE GIVES APPROVAL FOR LENTON SHISHA BAR
On Wednesday 23 March 2022, Joseph Locker, Digital News Correspondent for the Nottingham Post reported that Nottingham City Council's Planning Committee had approved an application to concert the former Barclays Bank on Derby Road, Lenton into a restaurant and shisha bar. Objections to the proposal had been submitted by local residents, including those living in the Palmer Court independent living complex off Newgate Street, Nottingham City Homes, Nottingham Civic Society and residents' groups.
This report follows on from the one posted by Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter, and Julian Turner, Content Editor, on 16 March 2022, which is also available on this page.
Former bank in Lenton to become shisha bar despite objections
There are a number of conditions
Plans to transform a vacant bank building in Lenton into a shisha bar have been given the green-light despite fears over the further "studentification" of the area. The application is however subject to a number of conditions after a petition garnered 42 signatures.
Mr Usman Hussain submitted plans on behalf of Mr Umar Asghar at the end of last year and city councillors discussed the application during a planning meeting on Wednesday, March 23. Mr Asghar had hopes to change the 1970s building into a restaurant, via an extension, with an open shisha area outside.
The application was first submitted in 2021 and withdrawn over fears relating to the impact on the Palmer Court independent living complex off Newgate Street. They were then redrawn with revisions to the extension and the outdoor seating area.
It was also argued the scheme would appeal to the student population in Lenton. This would cause "further studentification" of the area, residents said.
According to the council residents had then become more concerned over the plans following a number of "unauthorised parties" on the vacant site towards the end of 2021. They said the parties had created "noise and anti-social behaviour" issues and the police were eventually involved.
Two petitions were therefore submitted by residents of Palmer Court at the rear of the site on Newgate Street.
The first petition gained 37 signatures and the second 42. Both expressed concerns the plans would lead to increased noise pollution and general disturbance.
The council says: "This is seen as very different to its former use as a bank with the normal business hours of 9am to 5pm. Residents already suffer from noise problems from the high number of students living in the area."
Nottingham City Homes also objected to the development alongside the Nottingham Civic Society. The meeting heard the society felt the 1970s bank building was "of particular architectural merit" and the alterations to the frontage would be of detriment to this.
Councillor Graham Chapman, who represents Aspley, was not convinced the building was of architectural merit but raised a number of issues, including those around waste collection.
The applicant however agreed to a number of conditions, including restricting hours of use to between 9am and 11pm, while the outdoor seating area would close by 10pm. Council planning officers said the scheme was therefore "acceptable".
As a result it was recommended the scheme should be granted planning permission.
Councillor Chapman said: "The restrictions the applicants have agreed to which is very helpful, including the opening times, the use of the frontage and the excluded use of the car park area for outdoor seating and I think that will be very helpful and on that basis my recommendation is we vote for this."
The vote for permission was unanimous.
Former bank in Lenton to become shisha bar despite objections - Nottinghamshire Live
COUNCILLORS TO VOTE ON APPLICATION FOR RESTAURANT & SHISHA AREA NEXT TO SAVOY CINEMA, LENTON
Writing in the Nottingham Post on Wednesday 16 March 2022, Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter, and Julian Turner, Content Editor, reported on local residents' fears that plans to turn the former Barclays Bank on Derby Road, Lenton into a restaurant with shisha area would lead to further 'studentification' of Lenton. Nottingham City Council's Planning Committee is due to decide on the application at its meeting on Wednesday 23 March. Planning officers are recommending approval of the application.
Fears in Lenton of further “studentification” if shisha bar is approved
Concerns were also raised over parking
Residents fear the “further studentification” of a Nottingham suburb if plans for a shisha bar are approved.
An applicant applied to Nottingham City Council to turn a vacant bank in Derby Road, Lenton, into a restaurant with an outdoor shisha area.
They have also applied to extend the building for a restaurant seating area.
The application was first submitted in 2021 but then withdrawn due to concerns relating to the impact on the independent living block Palmer Court and other neighbouring residents.
The plans have now been resubmitted with revisions relating to the extension and the outdoor seating area.
Planning officers recommend that the application is approved despite objections from residents.
A petition by residents at the Palmer Court independent living complex, signed by 42 people, said the plans would cause disturbance to neighbours.
Nottingham City Homes objected to the development, which they said would have “a detrimental impact on residents’ ability to peacefully enjoy their homes”.
Residents in Lenton also said the proposal would encourage anti-social behaviour and the “further studentification in an area that already struggles with ASB [anti-social-behaviour] issues”.
They said it would also “give more emphasis that this area is for students and not for families”.
They added: “This plan goes in the opposite direction and will disappoint many residents seeing yet more evidence that their neighbourhood is being turned over to students.
“Whilst this proposal is not directly adding to the student overload; to provide further drinking venues that are open into the night is only going to increase the late night (early morning) ‘street noise’ that has been driving long term residents out of the community.”
They disagreed with the idea of a shisha bar on health grounds and said it would “add nothing beneficial the local area or its council-tax paying community”.
Concerns were also raised over parking.
Nottingham Civic Society also objected to the alterations proposed to the former bank building.
The application by Umar Asghar will be discussed by councillors due to the “significant public interest” contrary to the officer’s recommendation to approve the plans.
Councillors will vote on the application at the authority’s planning committee on March 23.
Fears in Lenton of further “studentification” if shisha bar is approved - Nottinghamshire Live