A Nottingham university has applied to use part of one of its campuses as a wedding venue. Nottingham Trent University will be able to use their Brackenhurst Campus in Southwell as a venue for wedding ceremonies if new plans are approved.
The university has proposed to erect a marquee on the land at the Brackenhurst Campus in order to host "occasional" weddings on the campus grounds. A planning document said this was to encourage the continuation and operation of the campus through the summer months when students have left, making "efficient annual use of the campus".
The university is currently applying for a wedding licence for ceremonies to take place at Brackenhurst Campus. The university said there would be social and economic benefits to expanding their event portfolio, making use of vacant space and "underutilised land".
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Planners have said there would be space for a maximum of 150 guests. They have said that parking and noise should not be issues, due to the timing of events and location of the campus.
The marquee would only be used to host weddings, and only on the weekend. Wedding ceremonies and following celebrations would take place in the new marquee.
The Main Hall at the Brackenhurst Campus is Grade II listed, with planners stating the temporary marquee would "cause no harm to the significance of the building." In a planning document, Planning and Design Group on behalf Nottingham Trent University, said: "The proposals would not result in any adverse matters of importance in respect to impact on heritage impacts or noise that would otherwise outweigh the significant social and economic benefits.
"The use of reasonable conditions to control the scale, extent and time of use are entirely applicable in this instance." The application is currently pending consideration by Newark and Sherwood District Council.
A Nottingham Trent University spokesperson said: “NTU is planning to offer its stunning Brackenhurst Campus, near Southwell, as a venue for summer weddings. One option for this would be a temporary marquee on the lawned area adjacent to Brackenhurst Main Hall, while another being explored would be use of the university’s Lyth Building on the campus.
“This would be purely for weekend weddings and the university is applying for a wedding licence for ceremonies at Brackenhurst. Plans would enable the university to continue making efficient use of the campus once the final teaching term has ended and will provide social and economic benefits for the local area.”
