Emergency services and council officers were called to the former Argos building in Ilkeston this week after part of an upper window was left hanging dangerously above the pedestrianised section of Bath Street.
The damaged glass was visible on Wednesday 29 July, with firefighters, police and Erewash Borough Council’s Building Control team attending the following day.
A cordon was placed around the area before firefighters from Ascot Drive Fire Station in Derby carried out work to make the frontage safe.
The rear of the premises was also inspected, where there appeared to be evidence of a break-in.
Council contractors were instructed to secure the property and block its access points. It is understood that the building’s owners have been informed and will be billed for the emergency work.
The incident has raised further questions about the condition and future of the prominent town-centre building, which has remained empty for around 16 years.
Years of plans – but no redevelopment
The former Argos store closed in 2010. Several redevelopment proposals have since been approved, but none has resulted in work beginning.
Huntingdon Properties 1 Ltd purchased the building for £350,000 in 2023. The current proposal would create 11 flats for social rent, supported by £215,523 from EMCCA’s Brownfield Housing Fund.
The funding was approved in principle in November 2025, subject to legal and financial conditions. However, no formal agreement has been completed, no redevelopment work appears to have begun and no construction timetable has been published.
Funding agreement remains unsigned
An EMCCA report published in February said legal-title checks were continuing and that completion of the funding agreement was being targeted by the end of that month.
Ilkeston News contacted EMCCA this week to establish what had happened since then. We asked whether a formal agreement had been completed, whether any of the proposed £215,523 had been released and when redevelopment work was expected to begin.
An EMCCA spokesperson said:
“EMCCA has not yet entered into a formal agreement regarding Bath Street in Ilkeston.
“Due diligence has taken a bit longer than expected, but we anticipate finalising the agreement within the coming weeks.”
EMCCA did not confirm that any funding had been paid or provide a timetable for work to begin.
Erewash Borough Council is also expected to seek an update from the owners about the future of the building.
For now, emergency work has made the damaged frontage safe – but the wider redevelopment of one of Bath Street’s most prominent empty buildings remains outstanding.
