The Beckton House development in Beeston town centre, as work continues(Image: Joseph Raynor/ Reach PLC)

The new huge student complex that is starting to tower over Nottinghamshire town

21 Dec 2025, 10:20 by Joshua Hartley · NottinghamshireLive

Plans for it had initially been rejected

A new huge student complex is starting to tower over a Nottinghamshire town as construction on it progresses.

Beeston is no stranger to students, housing hundreds of University of Nottingham enrollees, and this demographic reality is now visible to all living in the suburb through its new tallest building.

Cassidy Group is building a 419-studio purpose-built student accommodation block on land in Station Road, Beeston, by the Arc Cinema, which will dominate the town's skyline.

The eight-storey 'Beckton House' block, which began taking shape earlier this year and will also include shops and commercial units, will open in September 2026.

The transformative scheme was granted planning permission in May 2023, but it had initially been rejected by Broxtowe Borough Council's planning committee in July 2022.

The project had been recommended for approval by planning officers before being denied permission by committee members.

The Government's Planning Inspectorate later overturned this decision after Cassidy Group's successful appeal and ordered the council to pay the developer £19,659 in costs.

Concerns have been raised previously about the building's size, the quality of life for the students inside it, and how it could impact parking in the area.

However, the property company behind the project has argued that the regeneration of the previously derelict site and a boost to Beeston's economy would benefit the town's residents.

Liam Brennan, development manager at Cassidy, previously said: “Our scheme will offer something fantastic for local students who are currently living in houses in multiple occupation (HMO) in Beeston and this can create problems for people trying to buy in the town.

“Beeston has fantastic infrastructure, and the new development is designed to enhance that. We’re excited to see this site, which has sat derelict for so long, finally be the home of something exciting."

Cassidy Group completed its purchase of the development site from Monk Estates and William May Developments in 2023.

A previous developer got planning approval to construct the 'tallest building in Beeston' at the site in 2020, but this eight-storey tower was never started.

This abandoned plan consisted of 132 residential apartments, 50 car parking spaces, two roof gardens, and a ground-floor commercial unit that could be used for a variety of purposes, ranging from a concert venue to offices to bars.