Council defends decision to spend cash on store

A COUNCIL has defended a move to channel thousands of pounds of public money to a private developer to bring a long-derelict town centre building back into use.

- By EDDIE BISKNELL

Erewash Borough Council has facilitated £215,523 being given to Nottingham firm Huntingdon Properties 1 Limited to turn the former Argos at 12-14 Bath Street, Ilkeston, into 11 flats and two shops after 15 years of dereliction.

The funding, from the East Midland Combined County Authority and its Mayor Claire Ward, is aimed at bringing derelict brownfield sites back into use.

However, the funding award of public money for a private developer has led to the council being called on to defend the decision.

Documents from the combined authority detail that the scheme would include 11 homes but none of them would be classed as affordable housing.

This comes after three planning applications for the site have been approved and not progressed since the building's 2010 closure, in 2010, 2021 and 2022 respectively due to viability issues.

Land Registry records say the building - 10b, 12 and 14 Bath Street - were sold for £350,000 in June 2023.