Central Fire and Police Station, Nottingham
A PBSA-led mixed use development from Vita
This page provides details of Vita’s proposals for Central Fire Station and Police Station.
The site is located in the northern extent of Nottingham city centre approximately 400m north of Old Market Square. It lies within a block bound by Shakespeare Street to the north; North Church Street to the east; Burton Street to the south; and South Sherwood Street to the west.
A site location plan is included here.
The scheme will reactivate a prominent and currently disused site in the city centre, with 967 high quality student rooms, gym facilities, a dance studio, games and cinema areas, and outdoor spaces for students, as well as new public facilities.
The plans also include a double-height, two-level, publicly accessible Market Food Hall on the corner of Shakespeare Street and north Church Street, with space for around 500 diners.
Site plan - click to enlarge
Vita will be offering two types of student accommodation Vita Student – self-contained studio apartments - and House of Social - predominantly 4 & 6 bed sharing apartments designed to keep students in the city centre and free up family homes in other parts of the city.
More information on both elements is below.
Vita Student - the world’s best student living experience. It offers student accommodation with big self-contained studio apartments including double beds, and private kitchens big enough to serve meals for new friends.
Vita Student marries the world class amenities such as co-study suites, gyms and private dining rooms with outstanding resident focussed services supporting wellbeing, community, and future careers.
Students will find everything they need to Begin Big at Vita Student - student accommodation they’ll enjoy for the rest of your life.
House of Social provides unrivalled access to university campuses and the city, with design-led shared apartments which encourage collaboration, independence, and productivity.
An escape from convention and a place for independent minds to belong, House of Social brings together the elements of city living residents love and adore such as food halls which bring communities together and provide a change of scene to inspire the mind.
The scheme is being designed sensitively and sustainably to sit appropriately alongside listed buildings, particularly on the corner opposite the Arkwright building, and the Arboretum Conservation Area.
The scheme benefits from wide, pedestrian friendly pavements, with extensive new tree planting adding significant biodiversity and amenity interest to the street scene.
The architects for the scheme are Glenn Howells Architects.
Vita Student entrance - click to enlarge
House of Social entrance - click to enlarge
House of Social Courtyard - click to enlarge
Below we include responses to some frequently asked questions. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact the team. You can do this by Freephone 0808 1688 296 or by email.
Where is the site?
The site is located on the northern edge of Nottingham city centre approximately 400m north of Old Market Square.
It lies within a block bound by Shakespeare Street to the north; North Church Street to the east; Burton Street to the south; and South Sherwood Street to the west. This block comprises a number of buildings including the Guildhall, the Fire Station House and the ‘E.ON’ building which front Burton Street; and the former Nottingham Central Fire Station and Police Station.
This application and the emerging development scheme relate to the former Nottingham Central Fire Station and Police Station, which fronts Shakespeare Street on its northern elevation and North Church Street and South Sherwood Street on its eastern and western elevations respectfully.
The site dates from circa 1930s and comprises a four-story former police station and a three-story former fire station, internal courtyards, car parking and turning areas which served the operation of the fire station.
What do the proposals include?
Vita's new proposals will reactivate a prominent and currently disused site in the city centre, with 967 high quality student rooms, gym facilities, a dance studio, games and cinema areas, and outdoor spaces for students, as well as new public facilities.
The plans include a double-height, two-level, publicly accessible Market Food Hall on the corner of Shakespeare Street and north Church Street, with space for around 500 diners.
What public facilities are included in the plans?
The plans include a double-height, two-level, publicly accessible Market Food Hall on the corner of Shakespeare Street and north Church Street, with space for around 500 diners.
When are Vita planning to submit an application?
An Application is planned to be submitted by the end of May 2022.
What is the design inspiration?
Inspired by the nearby Lace Market, the scheme is being designed sensitively and sustainably to sit appropriately alongside listed buildings, particularly on the corner opposite the Arkwright building, and the Arboretum Conservation Area.
Will the historic cave network be affected?
Nottingham's unique cave network which have had various uses throughout history, from WW2 bomb shelters to wine cellars, are already accessible in numerous places throughout the site. Throughout the design, construction and management of this project the team will be looking for ways to further open access where possible.
What impacts will there be locally on moving in or moving out days?
Vita Group operate existing student accommodation in Nottingham and in other major cities across the UK. A bespoke moving in/out strategy has been developed which enables the smooth movement of students into and out of our developments at the beginning and end of terms and we would look to apply this to the Shakespeare Street site once operational.