Nottingham City Council has ordered the closure of the Howitt Building and Lenton Business Centre 1 due to fire safety concerns, giving tenants 28 days to vacate. The decision affects around 70 businesses and community organisations, including the Marcus Garvey Centre, which provides cultural and educational services.
The closures stem from a Fire Risk Assessment that identified issues with fire doors and compartmentalisation. The council cited safety as the priority and stated that repairs could have significant cost implications.
Business owners and community leaders expressed frustration over the short notice and lack of consultation. Some tenants have offered to contribute to repair costs, while an online petition demanding council action has gathered over 3,400 signatures.
The council has pledged support for affected businesses but has not confirmed long-term building plans.
