Pod hopes Benson & Forsyth is waiting to hear if a £25 million development in Nottingham city centre has got the go-ahead after submitting it for planning approval earlier this month. The Pod, a seven storey building on the edge of the Lace Market, will house retail units, a hotel and leisure facilities. The practice received a £150,000 bonus when it won the design competition, which was judged by a panel including Ian Simpson. Work is due to start on site in the summer and complete at the end of 2006.

Square approval The redevelopment of Nottingham’s Old Market Square, designed by Gustafson Porter, has been given the go-ahead by the city council. The £7 million scheme will open up the square and will include a stepped water feature which can be drained to form amphitheatre-style seating, and an under-lit glass strip marking where the old city walls used to be.

Minority first Hawkins Brown has designed the UK’s first regional inner-city arts centre devoted entirely to the promotion of arts by ethnic and minority groups. The £3.6 million Nottingham project, the New Art Exchange, will have gallery spaces, studios, workshops, artists in residence, a cafe and rehearsal spaces. Resident artists have been consulted on the design of the building, which is due for completion in 2007.

Mansion strategy A proposal to refurbish a Palladian mansion in Derby by conservation architect Anthony Short & Partners has been submitted to the local council. The practice prepared a conservation and development plan for St Helen’s House for the council, outlining potential uses of the now empty grade I listed building. It concluded that the Georgian town house could be used as an adult education centre or for weddings and conferences.

Popular panel More than 70 people applied to sit on a design review panel set up by Opun, the architectural centre of Regeneration East Midlands. The panel is being established to provide advice and comment on design proposals for buildings and masterplans, much like its Cabe counterpart. Thirty-two people have now been chosen and will attend an induction day in May.

Sustainable forum Architects and designers eager to see plans of PRP’s £60,000 house can find out more at an RIBA East Midlands conference, Delivering the Sustainable Communities Plan in South Midlands, on June 21. Speakers include RIBA councillor Simon Foxell and Catalyst Corby chief executive Bob Lane.

Tel: 01522 837480, or email riba.eastmidlands@inst.riba.org