Nottingham City Council is set to recommend refusal of the £150m Victoria Works development, which would have delivered the city’s tallest buildings in half a century. The scheme, led by Code Students, had been revised from an initial 40-storey proposal to 19 and 27 floors following public consultation in 2023.
If approved, Victoria Works would have provided approximately 1,260 student units, created around 2,000 construction jobs, and included indoor and outdoor communal areas alongside 5,400 sq ft of ground-level commercial space for community use. The site is located on Glasshouse Street, adjacent to the Victoria Shopping Centre.
Council planning officers have highlighted a lack of evidence to demonstrate demand for purpose-built student accommodation of this type and scale. The report states the project does not align with the local context, fails to contribute positively to the public realm, and would not create an attractive environment.
Code Students has indicated it will challenge the council’s decision if the plans are rejected. An appeal could result in significant costs for the local authority. The planning committee will formally consider the application on 17 September.
