Building has been ‘left to rot’
FRESH CONCERN OVER LACK OF ACTION AT DERELICT BUSINESS CENTRE
THE future of a notorious Nottingham eyesore is uncertain after planned work failed to materialise – prompting further concern from neighbours and a councillor.
The derelict Irwin Business Centre in Church Street, Old Basford, has been unoccupied for more than a decade and has been significantly vandalised, with windows shattered, large amounts of graffiti, as well as damage to the walls and roof.
The abandoned structure was left looking yet more dilapidated when a fire ripped through the side closest to Church Street in January.
Although plans to convert the centre into 24 apartments were given the go-ahead in 2020, they were never implemented and have now likely expired, as the project appears to have not started within Nottingham City Council’s threeyear time limit.
It was revealed last year that Dr Balvinder Mehat, who was temporarily suspended by the Medical Practitioner’s Tribunal Service for his “cavalier attitude” as a landlord in 2019, owned the building.
Dr Mehat said he could not say whether a new plan would have to be submitted to move the project forward, but claimed progress would be made “very early” in 2024.
However three months into the year, there are no obvious signs that any work is under way or imminent. There have also been no new planning applications submitted to the city council, and the lack of process is alarming local councillors.
Salma Mumtaz, Labour ward councillor for Basford on the city council, said: “All three Basford councillors are concerned about this building. We are going to pursue it further with council departments.
“It has been empty for many years and it needs to be sorted.
“It is a big target for arsonists and vandals, which means police and fire service time is wasted.”
Councillor Mumtaz explained that she was worried about two homeless people who had been living in the building, who she had become aware of while working with charity Mesopotamia.
“It is dangerous for those people who are living in there – it is not a safe or suitable place to be.”
She added that she would be pressing council teams about the issue in the coming weeks.
Dr Mehat, who has worked at Bakersfield Medical Centre since 1989, previously blamed the delays on issues created by the railway line running alongside the structure.
The four-storey building was constructed for office use in 2008 but was never used.
People living in Basford have once again demanded action to stop the further deterioration of the gutted business centre or for it to be demolished.
Phil Warne, 59, from Basford, said: “It needs tearing down at this point. It has just been left to rot. I was born and bred here and I’m sick of seeing it like most people are. I’m not bothered about what they put there, but we can’t have this being what people see first when they come here on the tram. It’s embarrassing.”
Rosie Stevens, 64, also from Basford, added: “I think it needs either fixing or pulling down, it looks beyond saving at this point. I would rather just have nothing there at all.”
Workers at the nearby Inchcape Toyota dealership said they had not seen much activity at the site, apart from spotting someone seemingly moving rubble and debris from January’s fire. Another local, 46-yearold Adil Khan, added: “I think if something is not done soon it will just get worse and worse.”
Dr Mehat was approached for comment, but had not responded before publication.