Car wash owner Hyson Green talks about plans for student apartments

The owner of a Nottingham car wash says he does not know whether he will have to move from the former pub site following plans submitted in 2022 to convert the building into student flats, which have yet to be approved. Amir Javidani, 43, has based his business in the car park of the former Cricket Players pub on Radford Road, Hyson Green, since 2014.

In March 2022, plans were submitted to convert and extend the dilapidated building into 50 student apartments and four retail units. However, the application, submitted by A&Q Properties Nottingham Ltd, is still pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.

When Nottinghamshire Live spoke to Amir in 2022, he said he was unsure whether he would have to move his business from the site. More than two years on, the 44-year-old is still unsure of his future at the premises.

“I don’t know yet, it’s not clear,” he said, despite previously saying in 2022 “my landlord told me we would have to find somewhere else”. Nottingham City Council confirmed the application was yet to be determined and said “the ball is in the developer’s court on a number of issues that need to be resolved before the plans can progress”.

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We have attempted to contact A&Q Properties Nottingham Ltd for comment on the current stage of the application. The plans proposed in 2022 would see the existing building – which is named on the council’s Local List – retained due to its heritage asset status, with single-storey elements removed and characterful brickwork preserved.

Amir has also previously raised concerns about drug users exploring the space behind the dilapidated pub, telling Nottinghamshire Live last year that he felt he had “lost control” of the situation. The 44-year-old says this has now improved. “They don’t come here any more. There’s no problem any more.”

Local residents have spoken out about the future of the building and what they believe should be done. Hassan Ali, 41, who lives in Mapperley but works in the area, said: “They’ve left it like this for so long. We don’t know what goes on inside – it’s very dangerous. It’s right on the main street and near the market too.

“The first thing people see when they get off the tram – really bad.” Jess Rowlands, 35, from Basford, added: “At this point I’m not really bothered by what they turn it into, as long as something is done about it. It’s really bad for the area, especially in such a deprived place that could do with some care.”