Plans to convert a prominent city centre building into student accommodation have been rejected by council chiefs who have said the development would "fail to enhance the character" of an area featuring a number of listed properties.
Developers proposed a scheme to revamp the upper floors of 11-13 Thurland Street, on the opposite side of the road to New Look.
They wanted to refurbish and make improvements to ground floor shop fronts and also demolish upper floors of the , allowing for the construction of four new levels. This was expected to provide 42 student flats.
However, Nottingham City Council planners turned down the application which sought outline , before more detailed plans could be drawn up.
The building in question is situated on the corner of Thurland Street and Lincoln Street and falls within the Old Market Square Conservation Area.
It is near a number of Grade II-listed building which notably include the former NatWest bank, designed by the Victorian architect Watson Fothergill, and also the Corn Exchange, designed by 19th century architect TC Hine.
In a decision rejecting the application, city council officials said: "The proposed development would fail to provide a holistic and clearly defined development within a prominent part of the Old Market Square Conservation Area and adjacent to numerous Grade II-listed buildings of fine architectural detail.
"By virtue of its inappropriate scale, mass and inappropriate architectural quality, particularly lacking in articulation, detail and clarity, the proposal would result in a development that would fail to enhance the character and appearance of the Old Market Square Conservation Area and would result in unacceptable harm to the setting of adjacent heritage assets."
Conservationists also raised concerns.
Hilary Silvester, executive chair of the Nottingham Civic Society, said: "When you've got new planning for alterations or for new builds, the architects and developers should always look at the context of what they are planning.
"Clearly here the context is two conservation areas with some very interesting buildings actually in Thurland Street.
"The new building needs to be not too high and its detailing needs to be respectful to the conservation areas and not too prominent but not too inappropriate."
The Civic Society formally objected to the plans, saying that "the mass, height and architecture of the proposal is considered to impact upon both the Old Market Square Conservation Area, the adjacent Lace Market Conservation Area and the setting of the Grade II-listed former NatWest bank".
A spokesman for architects Harrison McAfee said: "Obviously the building owner is disappointed but we will be looking at the reasons for refusal and then probably looking to submit an amended scheme soon."
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