Digital companies centre rejected

Heeley Development Trust applied to refurbish two of its existing buildings and create a new building in Thirlwell Road, set around a central courtyard area with ponds. The buildings would together provide room for up to 85 employees.

The scheme, which includes a number of environmentally-friendly

features such as a "green" roof, has already been altered after consultation with local residents. Wind turbines have been removed from the plans and replaced with solar panels, and windows in the proposed building have been moved to prevent overlooking.

City planners recommended that the development should be approved when it went before the planning board, saying it the proposed building was in "a contemporary style, featuring good-quality materials and providing an interesting facade."

Simon Gedye, the architect for the scheme, said the development would "encourage new and upcoming businesses in the digital sector to blossom."

Mr Gedye added: "This is the future. It can be local, and it can bring rewarding employment to this area. A critical part of the strategy has been to ensure that design quality is at the heart of the proposals.

"This place will be calm and reflective, with water and greenery – a place for ideas and inspiration."

Andy Jackson from the Heeley Development Trust added: "This project would regenerate a brownfield site that has been in industrial use since the First World War."

However, after hearing from concerned neighbours, councillors rejected the application by five votes to four, saying that not enough parking spaces had been included in the plans.

Robert Bowles, speaking on behalf of the residents objecting against the development, told the planning meeting: "There has been no consultation with the local community.

"The major concern is the increased level of traffic and demand for parking. There are to be no parking spaces for tenants or employees on this site.

"The plans indicate there will be five parking spaces, of which two

will be disabled spaces and three will be for visitors.

"There is a huge potential for local side roads to be used as a car

park for this development.

"This is totally inadequate, in my view, for a project of this size. It is wholly unrealistic for people to expect there to be no impact on parking in the area."

Another objector told the meeting that it was "with regret" that she was opposing the scheme, as many residents in the area support the aims of the Heeley Development Trust.

She added: "We believe the proposed building is out of character with the surrounding neighbourhood. The privacy of residents on Shirebrook Road would be significantly eroded.

"We do not feel we would be able to use our gardens for the majority of the week."

Chairman of the planning committee, John Hesketh, congratulated the trust on what he called "ambitious plans for the area."

However, he added: "I am afraid there isn't sufficient car parking space here, it's a simple as that.

"This will create parking problems.

"Heeley Development Trust want to do much more work in working with their neighbours.

"It's not good enough to say 'we've got these great dreams and they're wonderful' while your neighbours pay the price."