Radford car park where John Player factory once stood could become 587-bedroom student complex

Land beside Players Court And Radford House, viewed from Norton Street in Radford, Nottingham

Hundreds of students could be housed in a new £40m apartment complex built on land where an important tobacco factory once stood. An unused car park off Norton Street, Radford, which was once occupied by John Player’s Castle Tobacco factory, could be replaced with 116 student apartments housing more than 500 students.

The historically significant manufacturer built the factory in the late 1890s, expanding to span from Alfreton Road to Radford Boulevard along with a large factory on the opposite side of Radford Boulevard. During the late 1970s the company relocated its business to the Horizon Factory in Lenton, which is now demolished, and the area is now dominated by student accommodation.

The new seven-storey apartment block would be operated by Student Lodge and would include shared spaces, landscaping, eight drop-off care spaces and more than 200 cycle spaces. The cost of constructing the building could cost more than £43m, planning documents submitted by developer Hyson Green Developments Limited said.

Get the latest news straight to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp

Planning documents further explained that the planning contributions paid towards infrastructure could total more than £2.2m. There would be a ‘Green Heart’ at the centre of the student buildings once the new structure was completed.

This would include a private park for the residents of the proposed accommodation as well as those living in neighbouring Radford House, Adam and Burton House and Carlton House. This would be accessed by a secure gated entry, planning documents said.

The developer added it had consulted Nottingham City Council and key stakeholders over the height, materiality and design of the development. In a planning document, The Student Lodge on behalf of Hyson Green Developments Limited, said: “The proposed redevelopment of the Norton Street site represents a significant regeneration opportunity and financial investment into Nottingham, which will form a key component in the ongoing development of the area.

“Bringing forward development on the site, which currently offers little to the area, presents a unique opportunity that could play a pivotal role in the evolution of the city plans and forthcoming SPD’s, whilst bringing considerable socio economic benefit to the area, further strengthening the city’s status as one of the top ten university cites within the UK.” The planning application is pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.