A council has defended a move to channel thousands of pounds of public money to a private developer to bring a long-derelict town centre building back into use. Erewash Borough Council has facilitated £215,523 being given to Nottingham firm Huntingdon Properties 1 Limited to turn the former Argos at 12-14 Bath Street, Ilkeston , into 11 flats and two shops after 15 years of dereliction .

The funding, from the East Midland Combined County Authority and its Mayor Claire Ward , is aimed at bringing derelict brownfield sites back into use. However, the funding award of public money for a private developer has led to the council being called on to defend the decision.

Documents from the combined authority detail that the scheme would include 11 homes but none of them would be clas

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