Nottingham's oldest town house to be restored

A PROJECT to restore a 17th Century town house in the Lace Market has been given the go ahead.

The building at 41 Pilcher Gate has been derelict for up to 20 years.

Featuring a fine sweeping staircase, it is one of the last remaining run-down buildings in the Lace Market and is believed to be the oldest town house in Nottingham.

Nottingham City Council has now approved a £2m renovation to convert the listed building into six apartments and two offices surrounding a courtyard.

The project is a partnership between Metropolitan Housing Trust, architects Franklin Ellis, and developer and owner of the building, Bildurn. But they are seeking public money to complete the renovation.

Deborah Higgins, of Metropolitan Housing, said the flats would provide affordable housing and fill in "one of the last pieces of the Lace Market jigsaw".

She said: "We have put a lot of time and energy into getting this far; we have been greatly helped by the council's officers and hope that we can arrive at a solution that can be delivered. We still need a lot of support to bring this great scheme to fruition."

Metropolitan would take ownership of the restored building, which was originally built as a town house for the Sherwin family between 1689 and 1699.

It has blighted the Lace Market for many years, being seen as commercially unviable project by developers.

Now, Metropolitan has put together a financial package to fund the development, but the housing association is believed to be about £600,000 short. It has approached the East Midlands Development Agency, the Housing Corporation and Nottingham City Council about funds.

Ms Higgins said: "The scheme has projected costs of £2m but there is a significant gap.

"In the next stage it is hoped that major regional partners will be persuaded that this regeneration is a superb scheme for the area and will provide significant economic and community benefits. We are getting there. The help of regional agencies is now crucial."

Sean Akin, of Bildurn, said: "This is one of the oldest buildings in the Lace Market, which is currently seen by most people as an eyesore. The proposals to restore the building to its original residential use are an important move in the right direction."

Chairman of the city council development control committee Coun Chris Gibson said: "This is one of the most charming buildings in a forgotten corner of the Lace Market. I welcome plans to bring it back into use."

Coun Cat Arnold added: "It was beautiful once and could be beautiful again. It would be a crime to get rid of it. Let's save it."