Nottingham City Council must find over £1 million to address fire safety and maintenance issues at the Howitt Building, home to around 80 businesses and community organisations. The Grade II-listed site, part of the Lenton Business Centre, was ordered to close after fire risk assessments identified serious safety concerns.
The required works include £316,134 for fire safety upgrades—such as £174,000 for fire doors—alongside £341,700 for heating repairs, £350,000 for roofing, and £30,000 for energy efficiency improvements. Council documents warn of potential corporate manslaughter liability if safety failures lead to fatalities.
Businesses and community groups were given notice to vacate by early March, prompting backlash and a petition with over 11,000 signatures calling for urgent action to protect the Marcus Garvey Centre, a key cultural hub within the building.
The council has spent £520,000 on site maintenance since 2016 and implemented a new property management model last year, which identified long-standing structural issues. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service will conduct further assessments, and the council is reviewing all options for the building’s future while assisting affected tenants with relocation support.
