By Kit Sandeman, Local Democracy Reporter
A plan to turn the iconic Home Brewery building in Daybrook into office space has moved a step forward.
The building, which is also known as Sir John Robinson House, is Grade II listed and owned by Nottinghamshire County Council.
Now, the council will apply to the European Union for funding to create office space inside it, which would then be rented out to businesses.
The building, on Mansfield Road in Daybrook, near Arnold, is currently occupied by the authority, but it is hoped the transformation could bring in cash for the council.
At a meeting of the council’s policy committee today (March 28), it was unanimously agreed that a bid be submitted to the EU, which could pay for half of the cost of refurbishing the building.
The results of a feasibility study are expected in the coming weeks, and the outcome of the study would then shape the bid submitted to the EU.
However preliminary findings show there is a shortage of high-grade office space in the Gedling borough area, which could suggest that the scheme would be profitable.
Kay Cutts is the leader of the Conservative-run council, as well as representing the Radcliffe-on-Trent ward.
Before voting in favour of the proposal, she said: “I have to say I’m not a fan of EU funding, it’s one of those ghastly things where you ask ‘can I have some of my own money back’, and they say ‘yes, and now we’re going to tell you how to spend it and what you can spend it on’.
“I’m more interested in getting on with the job we need to do, and making this commercial.”
Chris Barnfather is the Conservative councillor for the Newstead ward, and said: “It’s a fantastic building, but it’s been a bit of a white elephant for many years now, it’s not been fully occupied for some time now.
“Gedling is short of good office accommodation, and while the building as it currently is may not be user-friendly for our purposes, I’m sure that with the right thought about how to get the most out of the building, it could be made user friendly.”
The deadline for the application for EU funding is April 20, and the results of the feasibility study are expected in the coming weeks.
The plan to apply to the EU for funding was approved unanimously at today’s meeting.
