Tucked away Nottingham land will be offered to university - but price kept secret

Nottingham City Council wants to sell the land to improve its dire financial situation

A tucked away piece of Nottingham land will be offered to one of the city's universities - but its price is being kept a secret. Nottingham City Council has decided to sell a plot of land off Fellows Way, which sits behind the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Science Park building, to the south of University Boulevard.

A decision document, which explained the city council's reasoning for declaring the land surplus to requirement, said the authority would let the nearby University of Nottingham know the land would shortly be available. In response to comments from Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis, who represents the Lenton and Wollaton East ward for Labour, council officials said the Russell Group institution would be contacted during the marketing period for the land.

The document explained other options had been considered for the land, but that selling it could produce a "potentially significant" windfall for the cash-strapped authority. Officials said the land had been identified as something the authority could sell as part of its plan to improve its dire financial situation, which resulted in government commissioners being called in earlier this year.

If the city council kept the "poor quality asset" it could cost more in the future to maintain and make use of, staff added. A report penned by surveyor David Smeeton added: "No alternative operational, regeneration, community or other requirements have been identified."

The document argued the public interest was better served by keeping the possible value of the sale secret, as these details contained "sensitive information concerning property valuation and expected capital receipt". It added the commissioners, who have been tasked with ensuring the medium and long-term financial sustainability of the council, were content with the decision to sell the vacant land.

The property will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with the council's legal department being asked to help "ensure the sale is progressed at pace." It is not clear whether the University of Nottingham will show any interest in the plot, considering its own financial situation.