Shoppers on Bath Street may have noticed a striking red-and-white legal notice taped to the front of 69 Bath Street this week.
Erewash Borough Council has served what’s known as a Section 215 Notice on the building’s owners – a rarely used but powerful legal tool that allows councils to force property owners to tidy up sites that are harming the appearance of the local area.
What is a Section 215 Notice?
The power comes from the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. It can be used when the condition of land or buildings is judged to be having a negative effect on the local “amenity” – in plain terms, when it looks so neglected that it drags the street down.
Councils across the country have used Section 215 notices to tackle empty shops, peeling paintwork, crumbling brickwork, and derelict land. If owners fail to comply, the council can step in to do the work itself and then bill the owner, or even take the matter to court.
What does it mean for Bath Street?
At 69 Bath Street, the council has ordered the following:
• Clean and repair the external walls, fascia boards, windows, and sills.
• Repaint the front elevation with at least two coats of exterior paint.
• Repaint window frames and the fascia board in cream or white gloss.
The notice gives the owners 60 days to complete the work, with the notice formally taking effect from 30 October 2025, unless an appeal is made beforehand.
Why now?
Bath Street has long been criticised for its empty units and tired shopfronts. The council recently announced a “smarter high streets” push, saying neglected properties make the town centre less welcoming for shoppers and visitors.
Section 215 notices are not used lightly – they are a last resort when owners fail to act. But the council has signalled it is prepared to use them more often, with three “ultimatums” already served in Long Eaton earlier this year.
What about the old Argos?
Some locals will be surprised that this order has been served on 69 Bath Street, but no such notice has been seen outside the former Argos building further up the road – despite repeated complaints that the large, empty unit has become a blot on the street.
Perhaps the difference is that the property has been earmarked for £215,000 of regeneration funding from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). That money is yet to be handed over to the Nottingham-based property developers, but it may explain why the council is holding off on enforcement action there.
For other Bath Street property owners, however, there is no such luck – they must comply with any Section 215 notices out of their own pocket.
A step towards change
Whether this move sparks wider action on Bath Street remains to be seen, but it shows that Erewash is finally willing to flex its legal muscles to improve the look of Ilkeston’s town centre.
For now, locals will be watching to see if the work gets done – or whether the council will have to take further steps.
