New era for Toll Bar House

Ilkeston’s iconic Toll Bar House was officially re-opened on Wednesday 8th September when the Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Donna Briggs, unveiled the newly refurbished building that will bring new opportunities for small businesses in Erewash.

Along with the Mayor, the Leader of Erewash Borough Council, Councillor Carol Hart, and Deputy Leader, Councillor Wayne Major, joined the Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, Councillor Michael Powell and other guests in celebrating a landmark regeneration event in the borough’s recent history. 

Representatives from major funder D2N2, project contractors J Tomlinson and Erewash Partnership were also in attendance to mark the start of a new era for the 1930s crescent-shaped building that sits alongside Ilkeston’s White Lion Square roundabout at the gateway to the town centre. 

Erewash Borough Council invested £425,000 and together with its partners have redeveloped and revitalised the building as part of the £976,000 refurbishment project to transform it into an energy and water efficient building to help combat climate change.  The refurbishment of the art deco landmark will house accommodation suitable for small and growing companies to locate in Ilkeston.

The building boasts 27 new offices, shared meeting rooms, kitchen and bathroom facilities with the flexibility to combine spaces to create larger letting units. 

D2N2 - the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire - allocated £425,000 from its Local Growth Fund allocation towards the refurbishment.  Contractor J Tomlinson, working with the council, also secured a further £126,000 from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which is aimed at helping local authorities with projects specifically designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills.  

Councillor Michael Powell, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning, said: “Our partners have done an amazing job in bringing this vital project to fruition.  Toll Bar House is such a landmark building in the town and its transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. It means that we can now offer high quality opportunities to small businesses in a green, climate-proactive building. We would like to thank all involved in bringing this ambitious project to life.  Celebrating its opening has been a very special moment.”

Chief Executive of Erewash Partnership, Ian Viles, said: “Toll Bar House business centre complements other facilities for start-up and growing businesses in the borough, managed by Erewash Partnership, and we look forward to continuing our close links with Erewash Borough Council.  We have already received significant interest from businesses looking to take up space in the building and I have no doubt that the facility will have a positive impact on the growing economic vitality of the town.” 

Toll Bar House is owned by Erewash Borough Council, having been originally built for the Nottingham Electric Power Company.