PLANS to redevelop a gateway site next to Nottingham's railway station are slowly taking shape. Bildurn Properties, a company controlled by Sean Akins, owns a swathe of buildings along Station Street and Carrington Street which it is seeking to refurbish or redevelop.
A development brief has been approved by the city's planning authority which could lead to a completed scheme with a commercial value of £40m.
Some architecturally significant buildings will be kept and refurbished, such as the Gresham Hotel, in Carrington Street, and the former police station in Station Street.
Bildurn owns a number of buildings in the area: 99-109 Carrington Street (which includes the Gresham Hotel and various ground-floor shops) the former police station at 3-9 Station Street; 11-13 Station Street; 15-19 Station Street; and the Job Centre at 23-25 Station Street.
It ownership excludes the Bentinck Hotel, now a franchise coffee shop, and a neighbouring office occupied by solicitors.
The firm plans a new offices development in Station Street.
It has assembled the properties, which fall within the Southside regeneration zone, over a number of years and worked with the council to shape a a master plan.
The brief follows a public consultation and an exhibition and identifies key guidelines and constraints on future development.
Architects ShedKM, who have a long history of working with Manchester-based urban developer Urban Splash, were called in to assist with design studies and modelling.
ShedKM have designed award-winning buildings across all sectors and are adept at re-using old buildings, while pioneering innovative construction techniques and design.
A sensitive and incremental approach to the redevelopment of the site has been taken, Bildurn says.
It includes the initial refurbishment and regeneration of two important buildings, complemented by major new-build components creating more than 200,000sq ft of space.
They will be linked by the creation of high-quality public space that extends to over an acre. The plan allows a phased approach with space being created over a number of years.
Sean Akins said: "We have always been convinced of Station Street's locational qualities, particularly with the increasing pressures to locate commercial buildings near major transport nodes, in addition to its canalside amenity and proximity to the city centre.
"The upgrade project at the station and the extension of the tram network to create The Hub reinforce this, as will proposals to remodel Broadmarsh and its pedestrian links.
"The local environment is already improving, with recent lettings to new operators nearby, including Sainsbury's Local and Starbucks."
He added: "Current economic conditions pose major challenges to development and are a brake on investment; however, this will not be the case forever.
"The development brief allows for a phased approach to development in 'bite-size' chunks which will be easier to deliver as market conditions improve."
He said it was too early for expressions of interest but the brief "allows us to put a fly on the water".
There was already "indigenous" demand within the city, he said. "The tide is rising around the Southside area following the investment in the railway station."
There are already a number of significant employers in the vicinity, including Ikano, Nottingham City Council, Capital One and the Land Registry.
"It is hoped that the development of the area, alongside the improved transport links, will encourage more investment and will create a gateway to the city that Nottingham can really be proud of."
Bildurn and the city council recognise that development will take a while. Suggested uses for the buildings include offices, hotel, residential, leisure and education, with shops on the ground floors.
An area of "public realm" or an urban park could be created behind the Gresham alongside the canal.
The area is largely made up of late-Victorian brick buildings considered typical of Nottingham at their period and form part of a conservation area.
Planners recognise that demolition of the rear of some buildings may be necessary as part of any proposals to bring them back into viable use.
