Abandoned UK restaurant and health club left to rot will likely be resurrected after approval
Metro Bank has applied for planning permission to open a new branch in Nottingham at a site formerly occupied by the Harvester restaurant and Orangetheory Fitness
The former Harvester restaurant, more recently Orange Theory Fitness in Castle Bridge Road(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)
As banks keep vanishing from the high street, one lender is going against the grain and has submitted planning permission to launch a branch in Nottingham.
Metro Bank Plc wants to establish a “bricks and mortar” destination for customers and is eyeing a location on Castle Bridge Road – situated between the city centre and Lenton – in premises previously home to the Nottingham Harvester restaurant until 2019 and, more latterly, Orangetheory Fitness until 2024.
The planning application lodged with Nottingham City Council states that “the site meets their (the bank) locational and operational requirements, as they expand across the UK”.
It adds: “Investment into Nottingham will provide accessible banking services to a wider catchment, as well as result in the occupation of a prominent vacant commercial unit within the city centre.”
The premises sits near a Holiday Inn, McDonald’s and Sainsbury’s, alongside a Sainsbury’s store, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
The new banking outlet will generate several fresh full-time positions, with roughly 60% of them being first-time banking roles offering training opportunities in customer relations and financial services.
The application seeks approval to undertake alterations to the building including recladding the front elevation and fitting new shopfront glazing and vinyls. The application stated: “The proposed design and reconfiguration of the building will result in the enhancement of a dated building and will provide an overall uplift to the unit’s currently vacant appearance.
“The proposed alterations are of high-quality finish and are also entirely reflective of surrounding operator’s shopfront arrangements, demonstrating an understanding of the site and how it relates to its existing context.
“The reconfiguration of the roof will also not result in any uplift to the scale or massing of the building as it appears within the wider area.
“No alterations are proposed to the sites vehicular access, and parking layout will be reconfigured so as to match the previous.”
The application is presently open for consultation until 21 June, after which a decision will either be made by the planning officer or committee depending on the level of response.
