Owner of infamous Nottingham eyesore breaks silence on its future - and reveals failed rescue plan

The derelict Irwin Business Centre, in Church Street, Old Basford, Nottingham
-Credit:Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post


The owner of an infamous Nottingham eyesore has issued an update on its long-awaited transformation, revealing that a rescue plan for the site has been thwarted. Dr Balvinder Mehat, who owns the derelict former Irwin Business Centre in Church Street, Basford, previously said its regeneration would finally start at the beginning of 2024, years after plans were approved for it to be turned into housing.

However, as 2025 begins, no visible progress has been made and the building's near-apocalyptic appearance has only been worsened by a fire in January 2024. The medic has now explained he had planned to use money from East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward's housing fund to get construction underway - but his bid was rejected.

"We have liaised with Nottingham City Council and applied for the East Midlands Combined [County] Authority Brownfield Housing Fund in the hope to develop this site. Unfortunately, we were not successful in our bid and we continue to work closely with Nottingham City Council and other providers with a view to develop this site."

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The EMCCA chose not to back the redevelopment of the Basford site, opting to approve projects elsewhere in the city, like the construction of hundreds of flats in the city centre and homes in the Trent Basin. The authority did not respond to a request for comment.

As well as last year's fire, which added to the damage caused by vandals and a lack of maintenance over the past two decades, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has recorded several rubbish fires at the empty Basford building. Young children and squatters have also been spotted inside the structure, according to locals.

Basford councillor Salma Mumtaz has called on the city council to take action to ensure the safety of the building and bring forward its development. The council, which has been keeping tabs on the decaying building, said it had encouraged Dr Mehat to develop the site and that a deal to build new homes with an affordable housing provider had been discussed.

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A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: “Council officers have been monitoring this site due to its condition and prominent position, for a number of years. The council has encouraged the owner to develop the site and tried to engage with them on a number of occasions as we did with the previous owner."

Discussions had been held over the future of the unappealing space, but these had not been fruitful, with the council's representative adding: "We facilitated a dialogue with registered provider partners who looked at developing the site for affordable housing however this did not proceed.”

Although plans to convert the long-deserted centre into 24 apartments were given the go-ahead in 2020, these were not implemented within Nottingham City Council's three-year time limit. Dr Mehat previously claimed that negotiations with Network Rail over the nearby train track had delayed his plans for the building, which has been empty ever since it was completed in 2008.