Action demanded on 'eyesore' Basford business centre as residents ask why it can't be demolished

The future of the unsightly Basford Business Centre has once again captured the attention of Nottinghamshire Live readers, sparking a lively debate on potential solutions and the broader implications for the city. The building has stood derelict and unattended for over a decade and serves as a stark reminder of a wider issue plaguing Nottingham and its abundance of neglected structures and lands that mar the cityscape.

The abandoned structure was nearly destroyed after a fire ripped through the side closest to Church Street in January this year. Although plans to convert the long-deserted centre into 24 apartments were given the go-ahead in 2020, these were never implemented and are now likely to expire, as the project appears to have not started within Nottingham City Council's three-year time limit.

The future of the building has sparked quite a debate for our readers with one such reader Kingie, saying: "Along with the Old Mill on Beech Avenue in Basford, there are far too many of these huge derelict buildings that could be converted into social housing, not only solving the housing crisis for those who can't afford ' affordable housing ', but also go a long way to reducing the growing number of homeless/rough sleepers in Nottingham."

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While Peteralfred said of the eyesore: "When you are coming into Bilborough the first thing you are greeted with is the disgusting derelict land of the old Chromo works that has been derelict for 10 years, Just knocked down and abandoned. Travel down and turn left onto Glaisdale Drive and you are met with the derelict dumped-on land of the old Crossland Filters site that has stood abandoned for 17 years.

"It is councils who turn our estates and areas into eyesores by not selling the building or land as soon as they become vacant or if not council owned they should make the owners look after the land or buildings. I would like to see the government introduce a heavy fine on councils and owners for not maintaining land and buildings."

Chatteris asked: "How many times have we had this same story about this same building and haw many times has the quack made promises that never materialised, Too Many?"

Hugh_j said: "Just needs a bit of paint and it’d be less 'unsightly' than most modern buildings."

TheEqualiz3r commented: "There is no surprise here as it's been derelict long enough and had many articles already. And those former comments called out 'nationalities' on a single unfinished development yet conveniently ignoring locally owned longstanding derelict eyesores the breadth of the city and country."

DieterHaussmann1 called into question the reason it was built in the first place by saying: "It is not fit for any use, being some thin brick piers with a ramshackle building made of pallet wood on top. It has never been used as it is just a prop or theme park scenery quality."

While over on our Facebook page, a few readers commented with Linda Turton asking: "Is there any reason why it can't be demolished..."

Maz Jones said: "I think there is beauty in urban decay, but this building is by a railway line and I feel if it isn't structurally sound then it needs to go." Colin Burton said: "Need demolishing it's an eyesore as bad as the old goods shed down off London Road."

Like many others, Luke Bampton said: "Demolish the thing and be done with it." While Kim Taylor said: "I have to face it every day, a complete waste of time building the eyesore."

An eyesore that needs to be demolished or a building with a future? Let us know what you think of the Basford Business Centre, in the comments here.