When Ilson Gnome first revealed that £215,000 of public funding had been proposed for the long-empty Argos building on Bath Street, the reaction from residents was immediate – and largely critical.
People questioned why public money should be used to support an out-of-town property company, particularly when the building had been left unused for years and Bath Street continues to struggle.
At that stage, the proposal raised more questions than answers.
Now, there has been an official update – and a significant change.
What’s the latest?
In November, the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) approved a full business case in principle for the former Argos building.
That approval does not mean money has been paid. It means EMCCA has agreed the scheme can receive funding, subject to conditions being met.
Key points:
- The funding applies only to 11 flats
- It does not include any shop units
- Any commercial space would be privately funded
- No construction has started
The proposal was submitted by Huntingdon Properties 1 Ltd, the company that owns the building.
A key change: the flats are now for social rent
Crucially, the current proposal is not the same as earlier plans for the Argos building.
Earlier redevelopment ideas did not include a commitment to social housing. However, following strong public backlash when the funding proposal first became known, the scheme has since been reworked.
Under the version now approved in principle by EMCCA, the 11 flats are:
- 100% social rent
- Managed by a specialist affordable housing provider
- Allocated to tenants nominated through Erewash Borough Council’s housing register
In short:
👉 The social housing element is new – and is directly linked to the funding bid.
Why does that matter?
This change sits at the heart of the debate.
EMCCA’s justification for supporting the scheme is that:
- The building would otherwise remain vacant
- The development would not proceed without grant funding
- Public money unlocks homes that are genuinely affordable, not market-rate flats
Supporters see this as a pragmatic way to bring a long-derelict building back into use.
Critics argue the shift only happened after public pressure, raising questions about how decisions are shaped.
Who owns the Argos building?
The building is owned by Huntingdon Properties 1 Ltd, which is linked to the Khamba brothers.
Companies connected to the Khamba family are understood to control a property portfolio worth many millions of pounds, spanning residential and commercial developments across the Midlands and beyond.
That context is part of why the original funding proposal triggered such a strong reaction locally.
Who will manage the flats?
Under the current proposal:
- Huntingdon Properties 1 Ltd would develop the building
- The flats would then be leased to a specialist affordable housing provider
- That provider would manage the homes and set the rents
- Erewash Borough Council would nominate tenants
The housing provider has not yet been publicly named.
What hasn’t changed?
Despite the approval:
- The Argos building is still empty
- No work has started
- No construction timetable has been published
- The funding is conditional, not guaranteed
EMCCA’s own documents suggest any release of funding is unlikely before 2027, and only once legal and financial conditions are met.
Where does this leave Bath Street?
For now, the Argos building remains closed and unused.
What has changed is the shape of the proposal. Following public backlash, the scheme has shifted towards social housing, and that change now underpins the case for public funding.
Whether that leads to real progress on the ground – or becomes another approved plan that never materialises – is the question residents will continue to ask.
Ilkeston News will keep following what happens next.