The Howitt Building in Nottingham needs £1m+ for urgent repairs. The closure affects businesses and the Marcus Garvey Centre.
The Lenton Business Centre includes the Howitt Building. Lenton Business Centre 1 is also there, and workshops are part of the site. The council says they are not affected, but Lenton Business Centre 1 must also close.
Fire safety could cost £316,134, and stair repairs need £9,000. Fire door work needs £174,000, while heating needs £341,700. Roofing needs £350,000 and energy work needs £30,000. Costs total at least £1.048 million.
The council could face prosecution due to fire safety failures. A spokesman talked about the risks, emphasizing that fire doors were a worry. These issues require quick action to prevent risk.
The council has historical issues with building upkeep. A new model aims to fix this by centralizing property management and safety. This model exposed the issues, and now action must be taken.
The Lenton Business Centre is home to many businesses, charities, and groups. They serve Nottingham’s diverse communities. The closure is immediate and necessary to ensure everyone’s immediate safety.
The council will do a thorough survey to determine the works and the costs. All options will be explored, and they will consult on solutions.
The building opened in 1931, and Raleigh used it as headquarters. The council bought it in the 1980s. The Marcus Garvey Centre has been vital and has served the Afro-Caribbean community for decades.
Council documents show fire risk reviews began in January 2024. The council and others did assessments, and November events were deemed “high risk”. Extra staff were added in December, but fire escape issues led to the closure.
The council spent over £520,000 since 2016 for site upkeep. Another fire risk review was done in 2019. Businesses were surprised by the closure notice and only had 28 days.
An online petition asked for action, demanding the council protect the Marcus Garvey Centre. Thirty-six groups had to leave by March 1, and sixty-four left by March 4. Thirty-seven are not affected, and checks are being done on the building.
The council created a support hub to offer help to affected businesses. Its’ main focus is relocation support. They address immediate safety issues.